Do You Realize What You're Holding?

John 1:1 “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

Stop Letting Other Things Come First

First of all, let me start with this: If you’re reading this before you’ve spent time in God’s Word, stop it right now. Don’t put it off; don’t keep reading on.  First go and get your nose in the Bible for a while, then you can come back and finish this, ok?

We’ve spent the last few weeks talking about how the Bible has been consistently proven true by science, by history, and by its fulfilled prophecy. We’ve seen that every argument thrown at the Bible has fallen flat on its face. We now know that the Book we've chosen to believe in has stood firm throughout the tests and attacks of time. Today, I want to switch gears a little bit and talk to you about what our response should be to the Bible.

The biggest problem the church has had in the last 200 years is the turning away from God’s Word. We simply haven’t realized what we’ve held in our hands,  what we’ve carried to church (or at least what we used to carry to church), and what we’ve left on the kitchen table from Sunday to Sunday. Read John 1:1 again very slowly...do you see it? Those words on those pages are more than ink on paper....those words are God Himself, revealed to us!

To many of us, myself included, have lost the respect that this Book deserves. Let me illustrate my point: In my last post, I encouraged you to look up some Scripture references in Daniel...did you do it? If you're anything like me, you continued reading the post to see what I had to say. Whose words mean more...mine or God’s? What should you pay more attention to; the things God says or my attempt to explain what God says?

I know I’ve done this many times while I’m reading a Christian book - I’ve skipped over the scripture references and only paid attention to the words of the author of the book. Which one is more powerful? Which words will have more of an impact? Why would I skip the words of the Creator, and only focus on the words of a good brother? It’s because I didn’t stop to think about what those words actually are.

More Than It First Appears To Be

As we've already seen, Jesus is the Word made flesh. Now combine this truth with the revelation that Jesus is God Himself. Now you can begin to see a powerful truth about the Bible. Think about this, if Jesus is the word that became flesh and blood and dwelled among us (John 1:14), and Jesus is God Himself...what does say about that book you’ve been ignoring?

It’s How We Hear Him Speak

The Bible is so much more than what we’ve made it out to be! God’s exact nature is revealed to us on every page. Every time God speaks to us, works through us, or meets with us - it always begins with His word! How many Christians are out there crying about wanting to hear God speak to them, yet never open His Word? Every aspiring disciple needs to remember this one thing, God always speaks to us through His Word before He speaks to us through His Spirit.

It’s Higher Than His Own Name

Most believers understand that there is power in the name of Jesus. It’s the only name given under heaven that saves us (Acts 4:12). Hebrews 1:4 tells us that Jesus’ name is far above even the most powerful angel’s name. Philippians 2:10 goes even further and says that every knee bows itself at the name of Jesus. So obviously His name is a very powerful thing, right? But in Psalm 138:2, David declares “For You have magnified Your word above all Your name.” In God’s eyes, it is more important for a believer to hold on to His Word than it is to confess His name!

It Gives Life!

In Acts 17:28, Paul said this about God, “In Him we live and move and have our being.” But it says in Deuteronomy 8:3, “Man shall not live by bread alone but [man lives] by every Word of God.” Do you see this? God’s own life-giving attributes are in our hands when we hold our Bible!

Just look at what Psalm 119 says about the Bible. It cleanses us (verse 9). It frees us from sin (verse 11). It revives us (verse 25). It strengthens us (verse 28). It establishes us (verse 38). It gives us every answer (verse 42). It comforts us (verse 50). It gives us mercy (verse 58). It guides us (verse 105). It gives us hope (verse 114). It gives us understanding (verse 130). It brings joy (verse 162). Do you realize what that Book you’re holding is? Do you realize what that Book can do?

I don’t think we get this yet. God’s Word is more than letters written on paper - it’s alive. Hebrews 4:12 says, “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 intents of the heart.” The reason this Book is more powerful than any other book is because it’s not some lifeless thing - it is a living Spirit! Look at what Jesus said in John 6:63: “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.”

Jesus and His Word are One and the Same

We started by reading in John 1:1 that the Word is God. What we need to see is that, while Jesus is God’s Word in human flesh, the Bible is God’s Word in written form. They both have the same nature! Jesus is God the Son, but He is also God the Word! This is why Jesus could say John 14:15, “If you love me, keep (hold to, cling to, never let go of) My commands.” Those two - Jesus and His commands - are one!

This is extremely important for every believer to understand, the way you treat your Bible is the way you’re treating God. The believer who lives his life in God’s Word - reading, studying, meditating and guiding his decisions by it - is living in a close relationship with God! But the believer who forgets about his Bible, never opens it just to read, leaves it sitting on the table from Sunday to Sunday is neglecting the very One he’s claiming to serve. Think about this - do you realize that your relationship with the words on those pages equals your relationship with God Himself?

Psalm 50:16-18 - Message Bible
"What are you up to, quoting My laws,
talking like we are good friends?
You never answer the door when I call;
you treat My Word like garbage.”

That book is more than just a book...It is everything that God is. Knowing this, how have you been treating Him lately?