THE GOOD WORD OF GOD

"Good is the word of the LORD" – 2 Kings 20:19

The Word of God is directly related to life--spiritual life. It "For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart" (Heb 4:12 NIV). God's Word has Divine qualities because it comes from Him. Note carefully, the Word does not lose those qualities after it has come to us. It is not, for example, living and powerful in the original, but lifeless in the English. Is there any one who would care to affirm Scripture has lost its power?--in any age, or to any people? When Jesus said, "The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63), He powerfully conveyed the consistent impact of His Word--even after it was written. That, of course, is why His words are recorded. They are not merely there for information, or intellectual data. The Holy Spirit is still associated with the Word of God and His Christ!
Because God's Word is "living," it produces and maintains life in the believer--life toward God. When we are baptized into Christ, we become "dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus" (Rom 6:11). Our primary sensitivity is no longer to sin, but to God Himself. He is in our conscience and our thoughts. We think about pleasing God, doing His will, and making our desires known to Him. There is no such thing as being alive spiritually and not possessing these qualities. A "living" Word produces a living people--a people God can direct, lead, and feed–people who prefer and enjoy Him!
God's Word sensitizes the soul to God and His will. It alerts us to both danger and benefit, blessing and cursing. It is a "is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path" (Psalm 119:105). No spiritually informed person doubts this. The walk of faith consistently confirms this to be the case! Without God's Word [or more precisely, without reliance upon God's Word], we stumble, falling into the snare of the devil.
The writings of the Apostles shed light on God, Christ, and everything they have said. Because of Jesus' accomplishments and intercession, believers are now being conformed to His image (Rom 8:29). The Word of God plays a key role in this conforming, which is nothing less than "eternal life." May YOU increase in your appreciation of the Word!