One of my friends generously gifted me with a monthly subscription to Ligonier Ministries’ magazine called Tabletalk. It teaches Biblical truths through various topics and themes throughout the year. While reading one of the articles about the Word of God I came across a particular section that spoke to me. It said,

“When you read the Bible or listen to faithful preaching, there is more happening than mere communication of ideas. The Word is more than ink and paper, and preaching is more than a speech. The Word is living, as the Lord is working effectually by His Holy Spirit through it.”

-Rev. Robert VanDoodewaard

The phrase that particularly jumped off the page to me was, “Ink and paper”. I loved the visualization. So often we try to put God in a box, and when we do so, we tend to forget the awesome power He possesses. We like to minimize His omnipotence so we can wrap our finite minds around His plans and purposes. And I don’t think we mean to do it either, it just happens unconsciously as we seek to understand Him. One way this plays out practically in how we do Christian life has to do with our relationship with the Word; specifically, how we relate to, think about, and receive the Bible and what it says.

In my own life, Bible reading has been incredibly boring at times. I have felt that the centuries’ old stories didn’t apply to my life, that God didn’t speak to me like He did with so many heroes of the faith, so how could I actually live like they did? I used to read to learn about God, instead of reading to be filled by Him, to know Him personally. As I have grown in my understanding of His Word, and changed my mindset to have an expectancy to encounter the living God while reading, my life has changed. The Word has become alive to me. He speaks to me as I read it, and He comes close as I listen.

This song was inspired by that simple phrase.

“Your Word”

Lyrics:
It’s true that you are good
It’s true your love endures
Your faithfulness goes on and on and on forevermore
It’s true your heart is kind
It’s true you will not lie
When you say that your love covers all of my sin, I will trust you with my life

Your Word isn’t just ink on paper, something to read or be heard
It isn’t just a talk by a preacher, it goes so much deeper
Your Word isn’t just a sound that is spoken, it heals what is broken
Your Word is alive, it’s the breath of life

It’s true that you have come
It’s true that it is done
Death has been defeated and the battle you have won
It’s true you never fail
It’s true you never will
I have faith that one day I will gaze on your face ’cause your promises prevail

Your Word isn’t just ink on paper, something to read or be heard
It isn’t just a talk by a preacher, it goes so much deeper
Your Word isn’t just a sound that is spoken, it heals what is broken
Your Word is alive, it’s the breath of life

Nothing is truer, no weapon greater
Nothing comes close to it’s power
Nothing is better, no sound is sweeter
Nothing compares to it’s wonder

Image sources:
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash