His Word is ...Life!

How do you feel about reading the Bible? Is it something you do out of duty or habit? Is is something you do for 'good luck' or to find favor with God? Why do you read your Bible? Or do you?

I'm often surprised at the various reasons Believers read the Holy Bible. Some do so out of Christian duty and nothing more. Others do so thinking they get brownie points with God for doing so. Others read the Bible inconsistently and sporadically. I'm also often surprised at how Believers feel about reading it. On more than one occassion, I've heard Believers express how boring they find reading the Bible to be. To them, the content is dry and irrelevant to their lives. Others see it as a book that simply gives good advice on how to live. And others view the Bible as just another antiquated book of religious ideas, legends, or fairytales.

The HOLY Bible is God's written Word to mankind. It is not a human book written through ordinary means. It is in NO WAY boring nor is it irrelevant!

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

2 Timothy 3:16,17

The Bible is God-breathed meaning inspired by God. God's Holy Spirit revealed His message to certain Believers throughout the ages who wrote down this message for all mankind. God spoke to these writers and they wrote what God wanted written. Though each writer wrote in the context of their time, culture, and in their own writing style, God was ultimately the author. God was in control of the written message. Therefore, the Holy Bible is completely TRUSTWORTHY and full of TRUTH!

Now before we move on from this idea of God-breathed, writing it off as nothing but fantasy, let me share with you the awesome power that is unleashed when God 'breathes.'

• When GOD 'BREATHED,' the Heavens & the earth were created: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth....And the Spirit of God was hovering over the surface of the waters. Then God said,..." (Read Genesis 1:1-19 for the complete description.)
• When GOD 'BREATHED,' life was created: Then God said, “Let the waters swarm with fish and other life. Let the skies be filled with birds of every kind.” Genesis 1:20 AND Then God said, “Let the earth produce every sort of animal, each producing offspring of the same kind—livestock, small animals that scurry along the ground, and wild animals.” And that is what happened." Genesis 1:24
• When GOD BREATHED, man was created from DUST! And the LORD God formed man of the dust of the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being. Genesis 2:7
• When GOD BREATHES during the tribulation, the TWO WITNESSES will be brought back to LIFE: But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. Revelations 11:11

God's 'breath' is potent. And if the Holy Bible is GOD BREATHED shouldn't we place a high value on reading it? I mean, God's breathed life into Adam to create the first man and He continues to breath life into man through the HOLY BIBLE!!! That very same breath that gave life to man to begin with is still breathing life through Scripture. If this is the case, then how could we even begin to consider the Bible as BOR-RING? We are suffocating ourselves when we don't deeply inhale the breath of life that God provides! For it is the HOLY BIBLE that testifies to God's glory AND to our RISEN LORD, Jesus Christ!

We should have a deep desire for the Word of God. That desire should drive us to breathe deeply as we inhale the Truths found within it's pages. Reading for reading's sake, out of duty or habit, is simply taking shorter breaths. Shorter breaths don't help us when we are drowning in the sea of a world filled with evil and despair. No, when we open the pages of the Holy Bible, we need to have hearts that are ready to thoroughly soak in it's truths. As we prepare to read, we can pray for God to open our eyes to see and open our hearts to accept what lies in His sweet and precious words to us. Even the dryest passages come to life with meaning if we'd only ask God to give us fresh insight.

When we read the Holy Word of God, let us read with great expectation. Let us read with a heart ready to apply it's truths. Let us read it to change. Let us read it and then OBEY what God is telling us through it.

Reading the Bible isn't boring. If it is, then you might need to check your perspective and maybe even your relationship with God. The Holy Bible is HIS WORDS to a lost and dying world. It is HIS ENCOURAGEMENT for His people. It is HIS Love Story to us...a story of a righteous, patient, loving, and wonderful God and what He does for the love and salvation of mankind. Spend time pouring over it's pages. Spend time reading His Love Letter to you! Simply ask and He will give you a desire for His Word. His Word is LIFE!

In His Love, Cathy