The Word of God is a guide for believers. We are all too inexperienced in many areas of life to manage without guidance. Psalm 119 shows us many sides of the Word of God, and how it in a powerful way will guide us in practical areas. Verse 105 says: “Your Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path” (Psalm 119:105). Here we see that the word of God lightens up our road, gives guidance for every step and wisdom for future plans. In a dark world the Word gives us light, so we can see where to put our feet, so we don’t have to stumble.
Daily read the Bible
In the book of Joshua we can see how regular use of the word of God is a sure way to progress. “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success” (Joshua 1:8). God’s Word also gives understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130), which means we don’t need to, and in fact should not, make decisions based only on our human knowledge and conviction. The Bible is there to guide, teach, affirm, correct and instruct.
The authority of the Bible
Because God’s word comes directly from God it has authority. Each word is breathed by His Holy Spirit, and it is true and trustworthy. It is the word of God both in sum and in parts. Jesus and the disciples used the Old Testament and believed all of it. So did Paul. We are blessed to also have the New Testament.
But all of the New Testament was written by Jewish men in a Jewish culture and society who knew the Old Testament. Reading either one of the testaments on their own is kind of two-dimensional. When we read it together we start to see the lines that were started in the Old Testament being completed in the New Testament, and it brings new life and a new dimension to it all.
God speaking to us
The Bible is God’s own word. It is God’s great gift to all people everywhere. God gave this gift to help us out of sin and misery and darkness. It is not an ordinary book. Every word is true. It’s filled with God’s own power and authority. The men who wrote it were inspired by the Holy Spirit.
We should read our Bibles as if it was God Himself speaking to us directly and personally. By His word God will give us light and understanding, spiritual food and physical health. The words of the Bible have the power to:
- Cleanse and sanctify us (set us apart to God)
- Build us up
- Make us sharers in God’s own nature
- Give us power and wisdom to overcome the devil
The Sword of the Spirit
Because God’s word is the sword of the Spirit, it is a dangerous weapon against the enemy, Satan. This is the reason why the Bible is controversial and that men will distance themselves from it by making it more difficult to understand and explain it in a wrong way. This is often done by referring to different Bible views or by denying the inspiration of the Bible. That’s why it is important to understand what is meant by Scripture being inspired – being the very Word of God.
We do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.
Jesus
How is the Word of God useful for us?
Paul writes to Timothy: “But you must continue in… knowing the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work” (2.Timothy 3:14-17).
In other words the Bible not only teaches us what is true and what to believe in, but it also makes us realize what is wrong in our lives, it corrects our mistakes and trains us to live God’s way. The Holy Spirit will help us to get rid of wrong thoughts, attitudes and behaviour by showing us through the Word of God.
The bread of life
When Jesus was tempted in the wilderness, he answered the devil: “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4:4). We eat bread every day, and if we don’t eat our body gets weak. In the same way, if we don’t “eat” the Word of God every day, our spirit gets weaker but our sinful nature gets strong.
In a way we can say that God has created our hearts to be a bank-account for His Word. He laid down the first savings when we were born again (Romans 12:3). But we can increase our “bank savings” by continuously adding more, reading more of the Bible, even memorise portions of the Bible. The more of the Word of God we put into our hearts, the better it is. When we face dark and trying circumstances, we can draw on our savings, and be encouraged by what God has said. In those trying moments or periods of our lives, it is important to focus on God who has the solution, instead of focusing on the problems.
What does the Word of God say about itself?
In the beginning, in Genesis 1:1-3 and throughout the chapter, we see that it was with His Word that God created heaven and earth and everything in it.
Hebrews 1:3 says that it is the Word of God which is upholding all things.
A few chapters later, in Hebrews 4:12 we see that the Word of God is living. This is also seen in the gospel of John, 6:63 – The Word of God is life. It brings salvation, liberation and healing (Psalm 107:19-20), and it gives light and guidance (Psalm 119:105). Peter writes that it is through the Word of God that we are born again (1 Peter 1:23). Jeremiah likens the Word of God to a hammer that can crush mountains (Jeremiah 23:29), in other words it has an enormous power! Jesus Himself said that the Word of God is like a seed of grain – which gives a big produce – multiplied by thirty, sixty or a hundred (Mark 4:20).
What if we don’t understand?
We don’t always fully understand what we read, but our spirits understand more than our minds and intellect. Sometimes we experience that our hearts receive something that our mind is unable to grasp. This is because our spirit relate to God and spiritual things. Therefore, read the Bible, and ask the Holy Spirit to open it up for you, to reveal it to your heart and spirit. Other times we read and though we might not understand it at the moment, it is stored up for us in our “bank account”, and you can trust that God will reveal its meaning to you at the right time.
Let’s go back to Psalm 119:105 once again: “Your Word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path.” By the Word of God we can see where we are going, they throw a beam of light on our dark paths. The world is a dark place, and our enemy is the ruler, but God and His Word is stronger. Light always conquers darkness!