Why Read the Bible?

To a Christian, this question is like asking, Why should I breathe? The breath of life flows through the Bible. Through its words God reveals Himself to us. And, in Him we live and move and have our being! When Jesus told those who would follow Him that they would have to eat his body and drink His blood, many of them left. This was too hard for them.

Jesus turned to the twelve and asked them if they too were planning to leave. Here Peter gave this wonderful answer: “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the word of Eternal life!”John 6:68

The thoughts below are built around short literary statement by Martha Wing Robinson, an early 20^th century Bible teacher and poet based in Zion, Illinois.

~~Martha Wing Robinson

The One Book…….Although the Bible is composed of a large number of treatises, prophesies, visions, poems, songs, aphorisms, letters and histories written by dozens of different people, it is one book. Its theme is God’s sharing with us His information, His revelation, His rules, His guidance, His love for us and His promises that can make our life “joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

The Bible was all I knew as a boy. I learned to read from this book. Even before I could understand the words, my Dad would have me sit with him and point to the words as he pronounced them, and I would say the words after him. In this way, these words got into my head, but, more importantly, into my heart.

From the Bible I got God’s view of life and the world and a right perspective on life. It is the only book that can give this to us. Sadly, as I got older and grew “wise in mine own eyes,” my views got all twisted up with the ideas and opinions of men. This led me away from God and His words of life.

The Only Book…..The Bible is the only book that presents to us God’s will for our lives and shows us the way of life. My father used to say that when the famous poet Wolfgang Goethe was dying he asked those in attendance to bring him “the book.”

The Bible is the only complete history of the world we have. It tells us, in a way that nothing else does, about the beginning of man’s existence upon the earth. It is our only plausible history of the world from its beginning, but more importantly, it tells us why we are here, what our purpose is and what our end will be.

Beware of getting sidetracked into the other books offered by the different sects or denominations. As aides to worship or helps in understanding God’s Word, these books have some value. But don’t get taken up in their polemics and insistence that their interpretation of the Bible is the only correct one. Virtually all the problems in Bible study arise from people’s trying to fit the Word of God into their little box. The Bible is the Word of God, and it is much bigger than our thoughts can handle. Often we need to stand humbly before the Holy Spirit and admit, “I just don’t know.”

God didn’t want us to have every answer to every question. He wants us to look to Him and know that He has the answer, and if we have faith in Him and His benevolence, all will be well.

John Henry Newman said that although there were many things he didn’t understand about the Bible or God, he never had any doubts. He used the analogy of a complex mathematical equation. You know the kind I mean, the kind that fills up a whole blackboard with Greek letters and other arcane symbols. Newman said, “I may not know the answer, but I know there IS an answer!” Amen! And we know the God Who has the answer, and that He loves us and that we are His children, the sheep of His pasture.

We must always remember, that God’s Word is meant to draw us to Him, so that we can enter His presence and dwell in the safety and truth of His love.

The Bible contains 66 distinct, coherent expressions of God’s revelation to His people. They begin with the earliest history of human life and go on to the yet to be realized culmination of all things. They range in size from a single page, like, Obadiah, Philemon, 1 John and Jude, to 150 Psalms and the 66 chapters of Isaiah, a miniature “Bible” in itself. Yet each has a theme and a purpose that radiates from God Himself and provides us with a revelation of His divine will and plan that integrates supernaturally into the uniform whole of God’s Word, which Psalm 119 tells us is established and perfect in heaven.

· Every type of literature. In the Bible we have history that is unique and verifiable, parables that teach better lessons than Aesop, poetry more sublime than Shelley, Keats or Shakespeare, and even the beginnings of drama, in Job, that touch an archetypical chord of truth that no other western drama has even surpassed. We have also sermons and prayers, prophecies and visions, allegories and letters reflective of the heights and depths of human experience and the points at which it has been touched by the divine.

And yes, we have songs! Sublime songs, old songs, new songs, angelic songs, celestial songs, glorious songs, all springing from that depth of divine grace that touches the human heart as no other expression can.

· Every kind of author. Those people God chose to write down His words were from all walks of life, from the humblest to the most exalted. Here we have the words of a shepherd boy and a humble teenage girl juxtaposed with those of kings, generals and conquerors. The words of the most eloquent and educated of men are here, but so are the words of the humblest and most unlikely. The wisest man who ever lived, the greatest prophet and seer, the most erudite counselor of earth’s mightiest king have their works bound up with those of unlettered fisherman, lowly slaves and socially despised “nobodies.”

The educated elites of the first century could not believe what they were hearing and from whom. How was it possible for them to be rebuked and stricken in heart by these low-life’s who had never even been to any school, much less the right schools? Doctor Luke tells us, “Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were unlearned and ignorant men, they marveled; and they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.” Acts 4:13 What was that? What made them see the miraculous in these ignorant men? They had been with Jesus! Hallelujah! Hallelujah! Hallelujah!

And the best thing about it all is that this will work for you too. Once you have spent time in His Word, people will notice that you too have been with Jesus. And they will want to be with Him too.

· King James Version. This is the Bible I grew up on, along with millions and millions of others. It is simply and universally recognized as the most beautiful and poetic of all the English versions. For this reason, certain portions, such as the 23^rd Psalm and the Lord’s Prayer have become a part of our cultural heritage, and updates just don’t fly well. (Author Kurt Vonnegut, who was not a Christian, attributed to Lancelot Andrewes the rank of “the greatest writer in the English language," referencing as proof the first verses of Psalm 23 for which Andrewes was responsible.)

A more important reason I value the King James Version is that all 54 translators were deeply committed Christians. Each and every one of them believed that they were bowing before the literal Word of God and that it was their mission to put that Word in the tongue of the common person. This is not true of some versions, where a particular denomination or adherents to a particular point of view or cause have distorted the text to reflect their own position.

Some editions of the Bible have appended copious notes articulating the positions of their group or point of view in such a way that the reader is led to believe it is God speaking, instead of an editor. Beware of any edition that contradicts the plain sense of the text. Stay away from “study Bibles” unless you know that the editors believe the Bible is the Word of God and that they bow before it rather than distort it to advance their own bias.

One other word on the “thee’s” and “thou’s”. Modern versions simply change these to “you’s,” but that is not accurate. “You” can be singular or plural, but “thee” and “thou” are singular only. “You” is used to address everyone, whether we know them or not, whether they are loved ones or enemies. “Thee” and “thou” are very personal pronouns used with those whom we know intimately. These words give me a sense of closeness to God and an intimacy with Him that the more general terms do not. I can think of no more beautiful words than those in the Song of Solomon, “O Thou, whom my soul lovest!”

· All time best seller. In Russell Ash's The Top 10 of Everything 2002, the author provides a list of the 10 bestselling books of all time.

Rank	Author	Book	First Publication Date	Approximate Sales
1	Various	The Holy Bible	c. 1451-55	More than 6 Billion
2	Mao Tse-Tung	Quotations from Chairman Mao	1966	900,000,000
3	Noah Webster	The American Spelling Book	1783	Up to 100,000,000
4	Mark C. Young	Guiness Book of World Records	1955	More than 90,000,000
5	World Almanac Editors	World Almanac	1868	73,500,000
6	William Holmes McGuffey	The McGuffey Readers	1836	60,000,000
7	Benjamin Spock	The Common Sense Book of Baby and Child Care	1946	More than 50,000,000
8	Elbert Hubbard	A Message to Garcia	1899	More than 40,000,000
9	Charles Monroe Sheldon	In His Steps, What Would Jesus Do?	1896	More than 30.000,000
10	Jacqueline Susann	Valley of the Dolls	1966	More than 30,000,000

What is very interesting to me is first, the magnitude of the lead the Holy Bible has over its closest competitor. Also of interest is the fact that people were compelled to buy the number two book on this list, but they simply couldn’t be stopped from buying the Bible. God’s Word is unstoppable!

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.

For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isa 55:8-11

It is amusing to me that the last book on this list, a steamy novel of romance and two-dimensional characters, reflects accurately the comment made by playwright Truman Capote when asked to comment on the writing: “Writing? That’s not writing, that’s typing.” How sad that over three thousand years humanity has fallen so low from such a height.

· Best stories of all time. Who does not have a favorite Bible story? As a boy I thrilled to the stories of David and Goliath, of Gideon and his trumpet, of Daniel in the Lion’s den. What girl’s life is not enriched by the story of Ruth or of noble Queen Esther? Who can read, without being moved, the lament of David for Absalom, his beloved rebel son? Whose heart does not thrill when Jesus calls to the dead man, “Lazarus! Come forth!” or to the stormy sea, “Peace! Be still!”? But of course, the most wonderful story of all is of God’s love for you and me, how He sent His son Jesus, to be born of a Virgin, to proclaim repentance and the good news of salvation! Jesus came to save His people from their sins, and His short life on earth and even shorter time of ministry touches our hearts in the way that no other biography ever has. He was filled with compassion as He fed the hungry, healed the sick, cast out demons, gave sight to the blind, love to the loveless and hope to all who believe in Him. Who cannot but weep when we see Him wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities? Who cannot but love Him as He stands silent before those wicked pawns of Satan who thought to destroy a man but instead changed the course of history by opening the gates of the kingdom of God to the numberless souls who would call Him Lord? Whose heart does not thrill on Easter morning when the angel rolls the stone away, petrifies the tough Roman soldiers and asks, “Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen!”Luke 24:5-6 Who is not astonished and at the same time filled with joy that the bonds of death were shattered because “it was not possible that He should be holden of it Acts 2:24”?

And whose heart does not leap, as we weep along with Mary Magdalene early Easter morning in that lonely garden, and then hear the Master’s voice! Not only His voice, but He calls His beloved by name, “Mary!”

As you read and fall in love with Jesus, you will hear Him call your name too! “Kenny!” “Madeline!” “Jonathan!” “Patricia!” “Philip!” “Debra!” “John!” “Robby!” “Don!” “Beth!” “Claudia!” Perhaps He will call you by that nickname or childhood name that no one knows but you: “Red!” “Whitey!” “CB!” “CP!” “Baby Frank!” “Jay Jay!” “PB!” “Buttercup!” “Sunshine!” “Patches!” Whatever name He uses, you will know when He calls, for you will know His voice. And when you do, open your heart to Him, and He will come in and stay with you and lead you to a special place He is preparing for you in heaven, where you will be with Him always.

· Human nature is revealed from earliest times. In my old Bible, my mother pasted this dated quotation from William Lyons Phelps, the long-ago professor of literature at Yale:

Everyone who has a thorough knowledge of the Bible may truly be called educated, and no other learning on culture, no matter how extensive or elegant, can, among Europeans and Americans, form a proper substitute. Western civilization is founded upon the Bible….It is a revelation of divinity and humanity; it contains the loftiest religious aspirations along with a candid representation of all that is earthly, sensual and devilish. I thoroughly believe in a university education for both men and women; but I believe a knowledge of the Bible without a college course is more valuable than a college course without the Bible…You can learn more about human nature by reading the Bible than by living in New York.

From the very beginning we see in Eve the aspiring wife, looking for more and pushing her husband, and in Adam the weakness and vulnerability that passion brings to those deeply in love. The rebellious first son Cain, is like every convicted criminal who sees not the blood he has spilled, but the fearfulness of his own punishment. All of human nature is here: the chiseling Jacob, the man’s man Esau; the patient Joseph, the hasty Moses; the greedy Balaam, the noble Caleb; the loyal Ruth, the bitter Naomi; the lustful Samson, Jepthah’s innocent daughter; the treacherous Ehud, the faithful Samuel; the fearful Saul, the courageous David; the rash Rehoboham, the opportunistic Jeroboam; hairy Elijah, bald Elisha; the wicked Jezebel, the bloodthirsty Jehu; the emotional Job, the thoughtful Nehemiah; the dramatic Ezekiel, the somber Jeremiah; the poetic Isaiah, the visionary Daniel; the faithful Mary, the doubtful Zechariah; the abiding Anna, the grateful Simeon; the impetuous Peter, the amiable Andrew; the disciple whom Jesus loved, the disciple who betrayed Him; the fiery Apostle Paul, the gentle Apostle Barnabus.

And it is not just the whole gamut of human character we see, but the whole range of human experience: the joy of Sarah and Mary when a child is born to an expectant mother, the sorrow at a child’s untimely death, from David to Jeroboam to Mary; courtship and marriage from Isaac and Rebecca, through Jacob and Rachel, David and Abigail, to Joseph and Mary: the rebellion of the Prodigals, the coming of age of David and Daniel, and of Jesus Himself; the horrors of war, the treachery of false counselors, the cruelty of injustice and murder and the kindness of strangers, the joy of Palm Sunday, the utter hopelessness of despair; all between the mysteries of Genesis’ primeval universe and the glorious arrival of the New Jerusalem, coming down from heaven at the end of this world and of time.

We need to approach the Bible with respect and awe. We must approach with a desire to believe so that we understand, not with an attitude of criticism and challenge. I like the practice of Jonathan Edwards who would say, not, let’s see what this passage says, or let’s look at such and such a verse, but “Let us see what the Holy Ghost says to us in this verse,” or “let us ask God to open to us His Word in this passage.” It is God’s book, and we must ask Him to reveal Himself to us through it. All other approaches are doomed to misunderstanding and controversy.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost. 2 Peter 1:20-21

I shudder when I read some scholar talk about “J” or “E” or the missing “Q” who supposedly authored the Pentateuch or the Gospels. How presumptuous! How foolish, how arrogant! First of all, there is not a shred of historical evidence for these claims of “higher criticism.” These are all literary theories, based on textual analysis and, quite frankly, unbelief. These critics deny Jesus’ plain teaching that Moses wrote the first five books of the Bible, perhaps because they don’t believe that Jesus really said what the text records.

We must be careful not to let godless ideas blind us to God’s Truth and destroy our faith through human arrogance and myopia. We do not want to be like an adjunct associate professor at a community college in the backwoods of the South who disputed some words of scripture with the observation, “Well, that’s only the Apostle Paul, not Jesus.” Can you believe it? St. Paul had, naturally speaking, one of the greatest intellects in history. Besides this, his learning was immense. King Agrippa thought “much learning hath made thee mad.” But even beyond this, Paul was only the instrument God used to record His Word. Every word of the Bible is “God-breathed,” directly inspired by God.

How much better off we will be if we accept Jonathan Edwards’ humble approach to Bible study and reverently ask the Lord to open our hearts and minds to His words and to fill us with His grace so that we can obey them.

John Calvin wrote about the Bible, “This is the principle that distinguishes our religion from all others, that we know that God has spoken to us and are fully convinced that the prophets did not speak of themselves but as organs of the Holy Spirit uttered only that which they had been commissioned from heaven to declare – all those who wish to profit from the Scriptures must first accept this as a settled principle, that the law and the prophets are not teachings handed on at pleasure of men or produced by men’s minds as their source, but are dictated by the Holy Spirit. We owe to the Scriptures the same reverence as we owe to God, since it has its only source in Him and has nothing of human origin mixed with it.”

John Wesley, whose theology sometimes opposed Calvin’s nevertheless recognized the same truth: “In all cases, the church is to be judged by the Scriptures not the Scriptures by the church.” The Bible is still the supreme authority for the Christians in all matters. It is not what we think Jesus would do or how we feel He would interpret the Scriptures, but “Thus saith the Lord.”

The Bible stands like a rock undaunted
’Mid the raging storms of time;
Its pages burn with the truth eternal,
And they glow with a light sublime.

The Bible stands though the hills may tumble,
It will firmly stand when the earth shall crumble;
I will plant my feet on its firm foundation,
For the Bible stands.

Haldor Lillenas 1885-1959

The grass withereth, the flower fadeth: but the Word of our God shall stand forever.

How things change! How foolishly we invest our time and effort into transitory pleasures and works that will pass away. I saw a television commercial in which two tourists were puzzled by how the same guy (Michelangelo) could do the sculpture of David and the Pieta. Not coming up with an answer, this question is quickly tossed aside as a pair of Italian shoes come into view. More importantly, they say, do they have these in my size? How foolishly myopic! Those works of art will stand for years and years, while those shoes will be out of fashion in a few months.

But the Bible does not change. “Forever, O LORD, is Thy Word settled in heaven,” the Psalmist tells us. How I love Psalm 100’s closing line, “His mercy endureth forever and His truth to all generations.”

Man’s truth changes. How ridiculous must appear to God the pretentious and arrogant theologians and relativists of the 20^th century who assert their reinterpretations of

God’s Word to fit our times. He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? He that formed the eye, shall he not see? Psalm 94:9 God have mercy on these wicked men, who thinking themselves wise became fools!

God’s Word is not like a scientific hypothesis that constantly changes as it is tested and proved and updated. The Bible endures for ever, and everything else must be tested against it to assess its value. Better still, the Bible will endure in us forever coming with us as we pass from our mortal lives to our dwelling place eternal in the heavens.

· Never out of fashion. I look back and laugh at my college friend who went out and spent hundreds of dollars on a Nehru jacket, popular for one season. Likewise the leisure suits, hula hoops, jitterbugs and disco music that were all the rage for a few brief moments. All gone. Look at the other books on the best-sellers list above. Where is Chairman-Mao’s little red book now, that no one is coerced into reading it? Next time you go into a used book store see what the value of last year almanac or Guinness book of records is. No one wants this old news. But the Word of the Lord, “Be not afraid, only believe!”Mark 5:36 or “Come unto Me, all ye who labor and are heavey laden, and I will give you rest!” Matthew 11:28 thrills souls today just as it thrilled Jairus’ heart and the people of Judea two thousand years ago. These indeed are the words of eternal life!

· Principles of our culture are set out in the Bible. What good there is in this world is the direct result of our recognition of the truth and richness of our Biblical heritage. The very idea that human life is valuable comes from God’s Word. The foundation of our governments and society have been based directly on the divine laws God has given us through the Bible. All of western civilization is based upon the Bible. Perhaps this is why that subject has been under such attack in our universities. But our system of laws, government, art, literature and science would be unthinkable were it not for the Bible. All are based upon it.

Indeed, civilizations rise and fall based upon their adherence to God’s Word. It is God Who raises up one nation and destroys another based upon their response to Him and their respect for His Word.

Behold, the nations are as a drop of a bucket, and are counted as the small dust of the balance: behold, he taketh up the isles as a very little thing. Isaiah 40:15

· Tells us about immortality. What an odd idea immortality is! Animals don’t have it. Where did it come from? It has been revealed by the Word of God. The Bible shows us that we were created to be immortal. The enemy of our souls tricked Eve into sin, but she and Adam were created to live forever. So are we! We will spend eternity in heaven or in hell based upon how we respond to the Gospel presented in the Bible. This Book is the key to eternal life!

But all of these developments are secondary to the main value of the Bible, that is the revelation of God Himself and His instructions to us about life and immortality. If we approach the Bible with the right attitude we will find ourselves not only hungering and thirsting after righteousness but saying, ultimately, with the Job,

And as we read on and submit ourselves to His Word, we will find Him there and He will fill our hearts and soul.

We have not been able to find the author of this song we learned in Sunday school. Please let us know if you have this information. Send to kkalis@aol.com.

· The Bible is the key to eternal wisdom. The Apostle Paul tells his young protégé Timothy how privileged he is to have known from childhood the holy scriptures “which are able to make thee wise unto salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 2 Timothy 3:2”

· It gives us faith. No one has seen God at any time other than in the Lord Jesus Christ, Who has revealed Him to us. But Jesus has ascended into heaven, and our relationship with Him is through faith. Hebrews 11 tells us that “without faith it is impossible to please Him” Hebrews 11:6. And the previous chapter asserts, “Now, the just shall live by faith”. Hebrews 10:38

Faith is the operative agency through which we experience God’s grace, salvation and presence. We need faith desperately, and the Bible helps us receive faith in its fullness. How does this work?

The Apostle Paul tells us in Romans 10 that “Faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” Romans 10:17 We must go to the Bible and expose ourselves to its words of life. It is there that we meet Jesus; every page speaks of him. In his History of Redemption, Jonathan Edwards shows how God and His plan of salvation are to be found on the Bible’s every page. But He is not only visible on every page, but active and empowering. As we absorb these words of life we are changed by the power of the Holy Ghost into His image.

Do we really need a book? Can’t we just live our lives and get to God on our own? No, says the Bible. Why? Because all of us have sinned and come short of the glory of God.

ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: Ephesians 2:12

Most people will accept this because they recognize their shortcomings and weaknesses. For these people there is hope. Some people don’t believe this. One of the most successful and educated men I have ever met, a medical doctor and pillar of his community said to me, in all earnestness, “I don’t sin, we’re not that kind of people.”

What did he mean? He meant he didn’t steal, kill or commit adultery, but this is a limited view of sin. James, the brother of Jesus, tells us that if we know to do good and don’t do it we are sinning! But pride often blinds our eyes to this. We compare ourselves to other people whose sins are more prominent and public and think we will be okay because we are better than them. What fools we are! John tells us that if we say we have no sin we are liars, and the truth is not in us. But he doesn’t stop there. He goes on with the good news.

And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:

And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. 1 John 2:1-1

Isn’t this wonderful? These are the words of life that Peter recognized in Jesus’ voice. But before the Holy Ghost showed him the words of life, he convicted him of his sin. It was at the time that Jesus told him to “launch out into the deep” to catch a boatload of fish. Peter pointed out that they had fished all night (the “prime-time” for fishing then) and caught nothing, but he went, obeying Jesus’ word, and casting out his nets. When they began to pull the nets in, there were so many fish that the nets began to break and the ship began to sink under their weight. Peter fell down at Jesus’ knees and said, “Depart from; for I am a sinful man, O Lord.” Luke 5:8

are many decent and even noble people in the world who are not Christians. Some of them ask the important questions like who am I and why am I alive? The great philosophers have provided thousand of pages of answers, but they will not show you the way. St. Paul tells us why:

But the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him neither can he know them because they are spiritually discerned. 1 Corinthians 2:14

As sinners, we cannot be saved from our sins without realizing our guilt before God and repenting so that we can be washed in Jesus’ blood and receive the love, mercy and grace that He offers. And His offer is one of grace and kindness. St. Peter tells us that God is “not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance,”2 Peter 3:9 and Jesus Himself says, “Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.” Revelation 3:20

· Jesus told a parable about a rich man who was so blessed that he no longer had room in his barns to store all his wealth. He decided to pull down the old barns and put up newer, bigger ones. But God said this to him:

Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke 12:20

· Jesus told another parable about some foolish bridesmaids who were not prepared for the bridegroom’s arrival. While they went to get the oil they needed for their lamps, the bridegroom came, went into the feast and shut the door. When the foolish bridesmaids returned and tried to come into the feast, the Lord spoke these words to them:

For unto every one that hath shall be given, and he shall have abundance: but from him that hath not shall be taken away even that which he hath. Matthew 25:29-30

· Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of the Father. Matthew 4:4

These words are from the Hebrew Bible, and Jesus quoted them to the devil when he tempted Him to turn stones into bread. As human beings, we are subject to our bodies and senses to perceive and understand the world. But there is a spiritual dimension which gives meaning and purpose to our human experience. In His famous conversation with Nicodemus Jesus said,

Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God. That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again. John 3:5-7

· “Never spake man like this man!” John 7:46 This was the answer the officers sent to arrest Jesus reported back to their bosses when they had been sent to arrest Him.

Jesus’ words were compelling. So much so that when He asked his disciples whether they were going to forsake Him, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of life!” John 6:68

Sing them over again to me, wonderful words of life,
Let me more of their beauty see, wonderful words of life;
Words of life and beauty teach me faith and duty.

Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life,
Beautiful words, wonderful words, wonderful words of life.

Christ, the blessèd One, gives to all wonderful words of life;
Sinner, list to the loving call, wonderful words of life;
All so freely given, wooing us to heaven.

Sweetly echo the Gospel call, wonderful words of life;
Offer pardon and peace to all, wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior, sanctify us forever.

If you fail to devour it….One of the main reasons for the corruption of the church and the decline of knowledge known as the Dark Ages was the absence of the Bible from people’s lives. The Church claimed that only she could interpret the Bible. What few Bibles that were available were in Latin and often chained to the pulpit! No wonder superstition took over the church and the lives of the common people.

How wonderful it was when Guttenberg’s press started printing Bibles, and Luther, Coverdale, Tyndale and others gave the people Bibles in their own language. Tyndale’s hope was that he would live to see the day when every ploughboy could read the Bible. And God brought this to pass.

Today the western world is flooded with Bibles. I believe we have 50 in our home. But sadly, most Bibles lay unopened and unread. For many years, I offered $100 to anyone in our Sunday school who would read through the Bible. Over the years, I have had only 1 taker. How sad!

Most people read the Bible only on Sundays in church, thus denying themselves the very strength they need to live the holy life to which the New Testament calls us.

How glad I am that my father and mother read the Bible with me. When I complained that I had too much of it, my Dad would ask:

How many meals do you eat a day? Three! And more if you want to grow or get stronger! It’s the same way with God’s Word. As you eat them you are nourished and grow in grace. What would happen to you if you ate only one meal a week? You would die. The same is true in the spiritual world. Don’t try to live on the one meal a week you get on Sunday morning!

Blessed are they that hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they shall be filled! Matthew 5:6

Do you hunger for the Word? As you read it, you will develop a keen spiritual appetite. You will find yourself saying with the prophet Jeremiah, Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart: for I am called by thy name, O LORD God of hosts. Jeremiah 15:16

· Why do we not understand it? Intent interprets content. How are you approaching this Book? Are you looking at it critically, as if it were just another book? Are you reading to challenge its message? Or are you approaching it humbly, looking for truth? The first way leads nowhere. The second in guaranteed to work, for Jesus said, Everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened. Matthew 7:8

William Wilberforce and William Pitt were close friends. Wilberforce, a committed Christian, was largely responsible for the ending of the African slave trade. Pitt was England’s youngest prime minister at age 24. One day a great preacher was coming to St. Paul’s, and Wilberforce asked Pitt to come. The sermon was so powerful and engaging to Wilberforce that he thought for sure Pitt would become a Christian. To his dismay, Pitt found the whole thing a bore and just couldn’t wait to get out of there. Why? His heart was not open. The god of this world had blinded his eyes. Jesus describes the situation well in the parable of the sower: When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, then cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart.

He also that received seed among the thorns is he that heareth the word; and the care of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, choke the word, and he becometh unfruitful. Matthew 13;22

· Are you looking for wealth? More than 80% of 2006 college students said that money was the most important thing in determining a career. This is not new. Jesus told a story about a rich man who had so much wealth that his barns could no longer contain it all. Confidant and feeling powerful, he ordered the old barns torn now and new ones put up. Then, feeling satisfied he said, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry. But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided? Luke 12 19-20

Perhaps it is wisdom, or authority of fame that you find so enticing. You may be caught us in today’s sex-charged atmosphere and think that romantic love or sexual satisfaction will bring you happiness. Read what the wisest, most powerful and wealthiest king of the Bible said near the end of his life after enjoying absolute power, unlimited wealth and more than 1,000 wives and concubines:

Vanity of vanities, saith the preacher; all is vanity. Song of Solomon 12:8

· Perhaps it is social position and pleasure you pursue. Jesus told the powerful story of a rich man and a beggar named Lazarus. The rich man feasted sumptuously while the beggar was covered with sores, looking for crumbs from the rich man’s table receiving comfort only from the dogs that licked his sores. One night they both died and woke up in eternity. Angels carried Lazarus to joy and peace in “Abraham’s bosom,” while the rich man found himself sizzling in Hell. What a role reversal! And even then, the rich man did not “get it.” He cried, Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, and cool my tongue; for I am tormented in this flame.

But Abraham said, Son, remember that thou in thy lifetime receivedst thy good things, and likewise Lazarus evil things: but now he is comforted, and thou art tormented. And beside all this, between us and you there is a great gulf fixed: so that they which would pass from hence to you cannot; neither can they pass to us, that would come from thence.

It is only at this point that we see some sign of compassion from this self-centered man, as he asks Abraham to send Lazarus to warn his brothers. Abraham tells him, They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them.] And he said, Nay, father Abraham: but if one went unto them from the dead, they will repent. And he said unto him, If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be persuaded, though one rose from the dead.

What a story! What power is attributed to the Bible (Moses and the prophets)! God has infused His Word with the power to persuade people regarding their eternal destiny!

· Power is often the most alluring avenue men seek for fulfillment. King Herod Agrippa lived his whole life for power. He grew up and lived in an atmosphere of intrigue and political maneuvering at the highest levels. He was ruthless in his pursuit of power and not only survived, but prevailed. At the height of his power he addressed a stadium filled with admirers. He wore a shining silver rob, so marvelous that people wondered at is origin. The packed stadium were awed by his speech and shouted out, “It is the voice of a god,” and Herod swelled with pride. But God decreed that now was the time for judgment and struck him down so that his body was devoured by worms and he died an agonizing death.

The boast of heraldry, the pomp of pow'r,
And all that beauty, all that wealth e'er gave,
Awaits alike th'inevitable hour.
The paths of glory lead but to the grave.

From beginning to end God is present in the Bible. Genesis shows Him creating all things and revealing His covenant to His people. The books of law give us His guidance to the relationship He set up with His people. The books of history testify to His Providence, Power and loving care of those who belong to Him. The Psalms and other books of poetry reveal the glorious praise of those whom He had delivered or blessed or comforted or saved from their enemies. The prophets testify to God’s omniscience and faithfulness. In the Gospels we see hundreds of Messianic prophecies come true in the life and ministry of Jesus. The Acts show the power of the Holy Ghost and His ongoing work in saving those who look to Jesus and trust in His sacrificial death. The epistles of Paul, Peter, John and Jude guide us into living a glorious life, and the Revelation holds out God’s promises for a glorious eternity. Here too, God appears with a gracious invitation to us to simply, “Come.”

A.B. Simpson tells this story: I once saw a picture of the Constitution of the United States, very skillfully engraved in copper plate, so that when you looked at it closely it was nothing more than a piece of writing, but when you looked at it at a distance, it was the face of George Washington. The face shone out in the shading of the letters at a little distance, and I saw the person, not the words, nor the ideas; and I thought, "'That is the way to look at the Scriptures and understand the thoughts of God, to see in them the face of love, shining through and through; not ideas, nor doctrines, but Jesus Himself as the Life and Source and sustaining Presence of all our life."

As you read the Bible, you will see Jesus more and more. It is the fullest picture and revelation of Him that we have.

And, as you read, you not only will see Jesus but experience Him and the power of God:

Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts: and let him return unto the LORD, and he will have mercy upon him; and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon.

For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, saith the LORD.

For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways, and my thoughts than your thoughts.
For as the rain cometh down, and the snow from heaven, and returneth not thither, but watereth the earth, and maketh it bring forth and bud, that it may give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater:

So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it. Isaiah 55:7-11

· A soldier in WW II had strayed far from God. A chaplain put a New Testament in his pocket as the young man left for the front. A bullet meant for his heart struck the book stopping at John 3:16. The words of Jesus spoke directly to his heart: “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on Hm should not perish, but have everlasting life.” He was not only saved from death, but experienced that new birth that Jesus called for; he had passed from death unto life.

· David Suchet, the actor known for portraying Agatha Christie’s famous Belgian detective Hercule Poirot, was lost in despair in a hotel room when he picked up a Gideon Bible. His life was instantly changed.

· A young woman in jail for various violations including prostitution, drug use and theft called her mother for help. The mother refused to take her call. “You have hurt this family far too much,” the mother said. “We are finished with you. Don’t call us again.” With no one to turn to, the woman picked up a Gideon’s pocket New Testament & Psalms. She opened to Psalm 27.10 which reads, “When my father and mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up.” She was reconciled to God and later to her mother as well.

· The Bible has something to offer for every situation and every need. I often turn to the Psalms of David, whose life surely has within it all of the thrills of victory and agonies of defeat. Through all of these, he poured out his heart to Jehovah, and many of these thoughts now reside in Psalms that comfort us. The 23^rd Psalm we know from childhood, and we lean upon Psalms 46 and 91 in times of trouble. We rejoice in Psalms 24 and 100 and allow this ancient poetry to enter into our souls.

· It is also a guide for every ethical situation we may face, from training our children, to conducting business with integrity, to dealing with our enemies and friends. It is a marriage manual and presents us with the finest words even written on love.

· Every problem is a direct result of not having a right relationship with God. How foolish we are as we try to deal with people we don’t really know, in unknown situations with unknown outcomes and hidden futures. The Bible tells us that God knows the hearts of everyone, He knows what tomorrow holds, and He knows us better than we know ourselves. Best of all, He loves His children and acts from infinite goodness and mercy:

For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end. Jeremiah 29:11

This book shows you how to trust God. It’s the best “Self-Improvement” book ever written, for it puts you in contact with the One Who has all the answers!

· Start small. But be regular. Every day! At least once! Use a devotional book or calendar, or have a daily reading sent to you via the Internet. This is the way to get into God’s presence right away as you start your day.

But don’t stop there. Read the Bible through. Much of the division that exists among denominations arises from the fact that each places different emphases on the portions of the Bible they see as most important. But it is ALL important.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 2 Timothy 3:16

Sometimes this is difficult to swallow, as when reading what seem to be endless genealogies, or lists of David’s mighty men, or the very detailed instructions of sacrifices offered in the tabernacle, or the mystifying wheels within wheels of prophecy. But, St. Paul tells us,

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope. Romans 15:4

Read through all of this anyway. My Dad used to say, “How would you feel if your name was written there?” And, I confess, I would be a little more interested. But within these seemingly dry passages are hidden blessings, the miraculous lineage of Jesus, the prayer of Jabez, hidden chronologies that show God’s sovereign hand, and lessons of holiness that cannot be gained elsewhere.

Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation. 2 Peter 1:20

Beware of weird or highly speculative interpretations. Ask God to help you have peace about those things you don’t understand. Join Mark Twain in averring It ain't those parts of the Bible that I can't understand that bother me, it is the parts that I do understand.

· Use a translation you like and are comfortable with so that you get the most out of your reading. Be sure to use your dictionary to look up words you don’t understand.

· Meet with other Christians in Bible study and share your thoughts with them. In Christianity’s 2,000 year history we have had thousands of brothers and sisters who were filled with the Holy Ghost and who have handed down an understanding of the Bible that is both orthodox and alive with divine energy. This is often best done within a Bible-believing church, if you can find one. If you can’t, I believe you are better off on your own or working with other believers than being corrupted by teaching that does not recognize the supremacy and absolute reliability of the Holy Bible.

· Believe it and claim its promises for your life. There are thousands of promises that God has given His people, and He has not broken one. Those powerful words that Solomon spoke are just as true today:

· Don’t get discouraged! Satan will fight against you. He’ll attack you just as he did Eve in the Garden of Eden, with doubt and insinuation: Yea, hath God said? And then he will offer a different point of view. Reject him and keep reading your Bible and believing God. Keep on! Don’t get discouraged! Satan will fight against you. Keep on! Often new Christians or Christians committing themselves to a special discipline, like reading a portion of Scripture every day, find severe obstacles in their way. These are the work of the Devil. He doesn’t want you to read God’s Word. He knows that nothing can stand before it, including himself!

Many people have the misconception that when they commit their lives to God things will become easy for them. That’s just not so. The devil will fight you. He will bring others to fight you. You will find opposition from your loved ones, your family, your friends, your co-workers. Why? Because you are no longer marching along with Satan, but are opposing him, and he will fight. He is like a roaring lion seeking those he may devour. But don’t be afraid! He can’t touch you. Greater is He that is in you than he that is in the world. You can do all things through Christ who strengthens you!

· Be like Mary, not like Zacharias. Both of these Bible characters had an angel appear to them and tell them of an extra-ordinary plan God had for them. Zacharias doubted God’s word and because of this was unable to speak until the birth of his son, John the Baptist. Mary, on the other hand, whose future was much more dangerous and whose experience even more unbelievable did not doubt. She said, simply, “Be it unto me according to Thy Word.”

This is what we need to say! If we do, God will open doors for us and lead us into divine fellowship with Him.

· Approach your time with the Bible with reverence. Join in King David’s prayer:

Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law. Psalm 119:18

Use your own words or those of the Psalm to a present yourself before God humbly, seeing His will and guidance:

Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. Psalm 25:5

· Claim Jesus’ promise that the Holy Ghost will enlighten your mind and lead you into all truth

when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth John 16:13

Unless the Holy Ghost enlightens our hearts and minds, our interpretation and understanding of the Bible will be greatly influenced by our own predispositions.

Psalm 1 includes this line: And in his law doth he meditate day and night. King David indicates that this is one of the characteristics of those whom Jehovah blesses. This is not the kind of meditation that has invaded our culture from the East, where the mind is emptied and blank and open to whatever spirits choose to enter. This is a focusing of the mind on the Word of God and hence on Jesus.

Once I spent some weeks meditating on Psalm 23, just a phrase at a time. I believe I meditated on those first 5 words for a week: The LORD is my Shepherd. What peace it brought! What comfort! What joy that I was not alone but under the care of that Good Shepherd, Who giveth His life for the sheep and Who is with me even in the valley of the shadow of death.

· The habit of meditating on God’s Word will renew your mind and you with be transformed from glory into glory! Soon it will be evident that you are spending time with Jesus. You will know it in your heart of hearts, and soon others will too.

· And when it occupies your mind, don’t let it out! Memorize it, so that you can use it when you need comfort or strength or guidance. Remember too, the Bible is an offensive weapon, St. Paul calls it the Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God! Ephesians 6:17. Read the story of how Jesus was tempted by the devil. To every attack, He replied “It is written…” and cited a Bible verse!

We have not been able to find the author of this song we learned in Sunday school. Please let us know if you have this information. Send to kkalis@aol.com.

· I almost began this essay with a quote from Hans Waldvogel: Very few people study the Bible to do it. How sad! But that is the reason so much time is wasted through needless controversy and debate. Nothing of value is gained when the scholars of the Jesus Seminar dissect the New Testament and opine on which words Jesus actually spoke or not.

Jesus said, “If you love me, keep my commandments.” John 14:15 And His commandments are not grievous. After all, He came to save us from our sins and death. His Gospel is the Good News:

I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. John 10:10

This is life with a capital “L.” Life that will not only fill you with the joy and peace of the Holy Ghost, but cause “rivers of living water” to flow out of you to bless others with “joy unspeakable and full of glory.”

This has been the most difficult section of this essay for me to write. Even as I write, I struggle with the cares of this life, with practical day to day issues that yank my mind from Jesus and tempt me to doubt or dismiss His Word. I know the Holy Bible is powerful:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12

By His Word, in the beginning, God made all that is, the seen from the unseen, and that very same power is at work through the scriptures. But will it work for me? I have been such a wretched sinner, so errant in my deceitful heart, so wicked in my imaginations, so unkind, critical and unloving, that I can truthfully say with the Apostle Paul:

For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwelleth no good thing: for to will is present with me; but how to perform that which is good I find not. Romans 7:18

But God saw all of this before the foundation of the world, and chose me anyway to be His any way. And He sent His only begotten Son to die for me to save me from my sins and to live for Him. To give me a new heart; to make me holy. And He used the Bible to do that.

Jesus gave the parable of the sower to show how powerful and life changing the seed of the Word is. It is life-giving and unstoppable when we nurture it in our hearts.

But the devil hates God, His Word and us, and Jesus tells us that he comes as soon as we receive the seed and tries to snatch it away. Some times this is with a “but” or a “hath God said?” or sometimes a jest or ridicule. The enemy of our souls will use any means he can to keep us from becoming what God wants us to be. He will often use theology and philosophy and higher criticism to put doubts in our minds so that our hearts will be turned from God’s narrow way. One philosopher has put it like this:

“The matter is quite simple. The Bible is very easy to understand. But we Christians are a bunch of scheming swindlers. We pretend to be unable to understand it because we know very well that the minute we understand we are obliged to act accordingly. Take any words in the New Testament and forget everything except pledging yourself to act accordingly. My God, you will say, if I do that my whole life will be ruined. How would I ever get on in the world? Herein lies the real place of Christian scholarship. Christian scholarship is the Church’s prodigious invention to defend itself against the Bible, to ensure that we can continue to be good Christians without the Bible coming too close. Oh, priceless scholarship, what would we do without you? Dreadful it is to fall into the hands of the living God. Yes, it is even dreadful to be alone with the New Testament.” Søren Kierkegaard

But even when we do receive the Word with open heart and faith, the devil is not finished. He will bring trials and persecutions to discourage; if that doesn’t work he’ll bombard you with worries and anxieties, what Jesus calls the “care of this life” and “the deceitfulness of riches” to “Choke the Word” Matthew 13:22 so that we become unfruitful.

But, praise the Lord, God doesn’t let the devil have his way. He has given us faith and the Holy Ghost, the Comforter, the Strengthener to fill our hearts with grace and understanding so that the Word of God will burgeon and overflow in our hearts. Jesus assured us that “He that believeth on me, as the scripture hath said, out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water”. John 7:38 That’s what the baptism of the Holy Ghost means!

And everyone who is so blessed by receiving God’s Word and remaining faithful “beareth fruit, and bringeth forth, some an hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty.”Matthew 13:23

O, how glorious this is! The miracle of salvation and sanctification is greater than the miracle of creation, that God’s amazing grace can save a wretch like me, and not only save me, but adopt me as His child, accept me in Jesus and use me, wicked sinner saved by grace, to be a blessing to others, to “whosoever will.”

Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For whosoever will save his life shall lose it; but whosoever shall lose his life for my sake and the gospel's, the same shall save it. Mark 8:34-35

Like a passport, the Holy Bible is a document that teaches us about privileges we have as believers. Many of these have been referenced above, but the eternal ones are those that grant us entry to God’s presence, His “Glory” both here on earth and ultimately in heaven, that wonderful place where we shall know no evil and pain, and sickness will have disappeared.

But before we speak more of heaven, we need to understand that there is another place, which Jesus mentioned even more than He did heaven. That awful place is Hell. It is so horrible a place and even a concept, that I dislike mentioning it, as do many pastors and evangelists. We have already seen how Jesus warned against this fearful place in the story of the rich man and Lazarus. It is the place Jesus described as “Where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched”. Mark 9:44, 46 & 48 while advising us to cut off our hand or foot or pluck out our eye that causes to commit the sin that can lead us there.

Hell was prepared for the devil and his angels and after Judgment Day will be the home of all those who have rejected the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior. What a day of tragedy that will be! And it will be tragic not only because of the pain and suffering and eternal loss of the sinners but also because Jesus has already died for the sins of the world, and salvation so rich, so full and free is available to all who will accept Jesus’ atonement. Imagine the joy of someone saved from such a fate! The Bible tells us “there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner that repenteth.” Luke 15:10 That is because God IS love, and so loved the world that He gave us Jesus, whose very name defines His ministry: “thou shalt call his name JESUS: for he shall save his people from their sins.” Luke 1:21

Jesus has indeed saved us from our sins and His purpose is to take us to glory so that we can be with Him forever. Listen to these wonderful words: In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. John 14:2 How wonderful! A place for you and me! And Jesus is preparing it, even now. O what glory that will be!

But although our trip to heaven lies in the future, we can begin to enter into His glory right now. How? Through the Bible! As we read and enter into it we will find what the Apostle Peter calls,

Exceeding great and precious promises whereby we may become partakers in the divine nature. 2 Peter 1:4

What more can we ask for? Eternal life and eternal joy are there for us through the love of God and the sacrifice of Jesus. But there is more, much more. Listen, just once more, to the words of the Apostle Paul:

But as it is written, Eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man the things that God hath prepared for them who love Him. 1 Corinthians 2:9

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! Romans 11:33

Let’s open our Bibles and enter into the glory that God has prepared for us! Each verse will bless us and open our hearts to God love and grace, and we will be changed from glory unto glory until that wonderful day that we see Him face to face!

I have found His grace is all complete,
He supplieth ev’ry need;
While I sit and learn at Jesus’ feet,
I am free, yes, free indeed.

It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Full of glory, full of glory,
It is joy unspeakable and full of glory,
Oh, the half has never yet been told.

I have found the pleasure I once craved,
It is joy and peace within;
What a wondrous blessing! I am saved
From the awful gulf of sin.

I have found that hope so bright and clear,
Living in the realm of grace;
Oh, the Savior’s presence is so near,
I can see His smiling face.

I have found the joy no tongue can tell,
How its waves of glory roll!
It is like a great o’erflowing well,
Springing up within my soul.

And now, at last, I close. Thank you for reading all of this. If I have been at all successful in encouraging you to read your Bible more, I am happy. Please pray for me and ask the Lord to keep me in His perfect will. This has been a joyful experience for me, for the pure love of the task and for the blessing it has bestowing. At times I could feel the anointing of the Holy Ghost, and at others I simply sat quietly and enjoyed the Presence of Jesus. I trust this work will bear fruits for eternity. I’m hoping you and I will join that great throng in the New Jerusalem when we meet in heaven and sit at Jesus feet.

~~Martha Wing Robinson

Haldor Lillenas 1885-1959

This has been the most difficult section of this essay for me to write. Even as I write, I struggle with the cares of this life, with practical day to day issues that yank my mind from Jesus and tempt me to doubt or dismiss His Word. I know the Holy Bible is powerful:

For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12