The Living Word of God

The Bible says that the word of God is living and powerful. In Hebrews 4:12 and following we read: "For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and the intents of the heart. And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." This is a statement of immense importance; God's word is living and powerful. The Lord said of the words which He spoke that "they are spirit and they are life" (John 6:63). It is evident that what the Lord had to say is extremely important, because they contain life, not physical life, because we are already living physically, but spiritual life, eternal life. Later in the same chapter of John, the apostles are asked if they, too, will turn away and cease to follow Jesus because of His words. Peter's response was; "Lord, to whom shall we go. You have the words of eternal life" (John 6:68). We, then, must be very careful in our attitude to these words. When we read what the Lord had to say, and the things which He inspired His apostles and prophets to say by the Holy Spirit, we must view them as they are, the words of God. And if they are the words of God, then we must be careful to do as they teach us to do. A loose and flippant attitude toward the living and powerful word of God is spiritually fatal.