The Indwelling Word

The Indwelling Word

God’s Word holds a unique place in the lives of those who follow Jesus. Yet, it is often an overlooked part of our spiritual development. Not to say that Christians do not value the Bible, sometimes they just forget its place in spiritual development. Could it be that we suffer from “misplacing” God’s Word in our own spiritual walk? We attend worship where the Word is taught. We are involved in a Bible study group. We read devotional apps, and take time during the week to read portions of the Scripture. We even have Scripture displayed around our homes and on our desks at work! I want to suggest that we could seemingly saturate life with Scripture, yet it still not hold the place that it could in a dynamic walk with Jesus Christ. 
We could easily be living life much like the Israelites in the days of King Josiah. We meet Josiah in 1 Kings 22. He is eight years old when his father dies and he ascends the throne. Not much is known about his early years as king, but at the age of twenty six, Josiah decrees that funds should be given to workmen and used in repairing the Temple (Old Testament place of worship). During the repairs a discovery was made, a discovery of both majesty and tragedy. In the Temple, tucked away in some remote place, neglected for some time, was ”the book of the law.” (1 Kings 22:8) The Temple was still there, so they had a place to meet. The priests were still there, so God’s people still had sacrifices and teaching, of some kind. But tragically missing from all this was...the Bible!!
We struggle to see ourselves in this story. We have multiple copies of the Bible and, on some level, interact with it throughout the week. It might not have been lost, physically, but it could very well be misplaced spiritually. We misplace the Bible when we read it on our terms instead of the terms God intended. 
While this could happen in numerous ways, three ways are prevalent - neglecting God’s Word by not spending personal time there, reading the Bible on an intellectual level because we find it interesting, and/or looking to the Bible only when we have life questions which can not be answered any other place. God gave us the Scripture for so much more. 
In fact God prescribes, specifically, the place His Word should have in the life of a believer dynamically walking with Jesus. James 1:21 says, “...receive, with meekness, the implanted word.” Colossians 3:16 says, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…” Both the idea of implanting and dwelling point to the fact that God wants the Bible to be internalized by Chrisitans. He wants the Bible to be more than our holy book. God wants His Word be a part of who we are. It must not just be consulted, or held at arm’s length. For the Bible hold its rightful prominence, we must in some way, allow it to penetrate our hearts, become a natural part of who we are, and live every moment in response to what God tells us in His Word. 
Christ intends for you to move beyond reading and studying the Bible, to being indwelt by the living Word of God. While this will not happen overnight, and certainly not by reading about the process, I want to suggest three simple steps you can take to begin:
  1. Spend time in the Bible. Find the time each day you can read God’s Word, but begin realizing this is not a textbook, it is the very voice of God in your life. These words are God speaking directly to you, filling your heart and transforming your life. 
  2. Do the next right thing. Find ways to intentionally put into practice that which you read in the Scripture. James 1:22 says, “But be doers of the word, not hearers only.” The more you live out the truth of Scripture, the more you see how God shapes your life through it. 
  3. Return to the truth in everything. Scripture does not tell us everything, but it does reveal the truths we need to walk with Jesus. At every turn begin asking yourself, “How does God address this in His Word?” When that answer comes, respond in a way that reflects what God tells you is true. 
    Being indwelt by the Word will create a life in Christ fresh and new every day. You will continually commune with Him, as you hear Him speak to your heart the living Word. 

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