Living in the word.
It’s an expression heard a lot when you love Jesus, but what does it mean? I know a lot of people would think being “in the word” means to read the Bible….. but doesn’t it mean more than that? What is the point of reading your Bible if you don’t live it?
I think this is a common problem in some churches. Well actually I think it works both ways. I think we have both the extreme of people litereally “living in the word”, meaning all they ever do is read their Bible, spout of verses like most people spout of cuss words, and relaying Biblical information in a very condeming manner. Of course, this is really annoying and not what most people like. This is someone who lives in their Bible and nothing outside of it. They don’t know how to apply what they learn.
Then we have the opposite side. These are the people who are “living in the word”. They read a little of the Bible, then “live it” for months or years at a time with only dips into the Bible. In other words all they do is act, but they don’t even know why they are acting. These are the sort of people who do good deeds, sing on the worship band, help out with the kids care, and do all the other Biblical things they are supposed to. Sadly they rarely, if ever, open a Bible and actually delve into a conversation with God.
So what we need is the happy medium. The most effective person would be one who reads the Bible, actively discusses it, chews on it, talks to God about it, and acts on it, with other people.
The key in all of this is relationship. Reading the Bible is pointless without having it be a time of relationship with God. Likewise acting out the good deeds is pointless unless we are having an active relationship with the people around us. Meaning we aren’t just doing it for ourselves, or because it’s what we are supposed to do, but because it shows love, God’s love to those around us.
“Above ALL, love each other DEEPLY, because love Covers Over a MULTITUDE of sins.”
1 Peter 4:8
P.S. I’m in a posting mood I guess. 2 posts in one night, YEAH!
February 11th, 2008 at 3:39 pm
Sadly I’d easily fit into the category of not reading the Bible and not having a lot of discussions with God. Very recently, I’ve been stressing a lot over material things. I’ve been told that I need to not focus on them and I got really upset with that person, now I notice they were right.
Saturday night there was a really small girls night I went to with Katie and Kelsey and a few other people and while Katie and I were waiting for Ryan to come pick us up she was doing her nightly Bible reading, which made our friend Erin ask if I’ve read much. I told her most of the stuff I’ve heard from the Bible is from church which I haven’t been attending much recently (once again very bad of me and I’m beginning to remedy that). She recommended I start with reading John if I do start reading the Bible more often. Last night I was bored and was going to do a virus scan on my laptop which takes forever so I grabbed my Revolve Bible-zine. I read about 6 chapters in John last night and now I’m actually interested in continuing.
February 11th, 2008 at 9:31 pm
and finding that happy medium is so darn hard, but when you slip into it, it seems like while all that craziness is still going on in life, there’s something inside of you that’s right. and that it’ll ensure everything else will be ok in the end.
February 11th, 2008 at 10:54 pm
YEp yep yep. I know it’s hard to be doing the right stuff. But all God cares about is trying. You don’t have to be perfect, your perfect in just trying. And Miriam thats awesome! Keep it up. I’ll be praying for you.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:15 am
Don’t think of it as something you should do. Think of it as a way you to get deepen a relationship with your best friend (he’s only the Creator of the universe too which is way cool in a friend. It’s a way to get to know him better and share yourself with him. The more you get to know him the more you are going to WANT to spend more time with him, just like in an earthly friendship. Relationships of any kind take work, they don’t just happen. We all struggle at times but as long as we keep walking with him, one step at a time, it’s all good.
February 13th, 2008 at 10:17 am
Oops, it was supposed to say “Think of it as a way you get to deepen a relationship . . . “. Maybe I’m dislexic. OK, I don’t even know how to spell that. I have issues.
March 24th, 2008 at 7:07 pm
hmmm id like 2 find that happie meadium, i think ou’ve hit upon a good point