Don’t just read it, live in it!

You may ask, how do I do that? That right there is a great question, so let me explain. For most Christians, we go to church, have the bible read to us and explained or interpreted so that we can have an understanding. You see that the interpretation is coming from a person, who is usually a pastor or teacher, so they themselves are living in the Word and  because they are living in the Word it has come alive for them and the Holy Spirit feeds them all the knowledge, truths and Wisdom that it produces. There are also many of us who rely on bible apps, daily devotions, TV preachers, Christian radio or social media meme’s that give us scriptures and/or positive messages to listen to or read  and think that that is sufficient enough to carry us through the day.  Well, I am here to tell you, that is a lie from Satan. You see, Satan wants to keep us out of the Word of God. Why? Because that’s where the power is! The bible is actually alive, it says in Hebrews 4:12

¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Why do you think we can be on Instagram or Facebook scrolling for 5 hours a day with ease but can’t spend 5 minutes in the Word of God. Because Satan wants to keep us from it because he knows that if we are living in The Word, then he can’t live in us and if he can keep us from it then we are his.

The sad reality is there are too many false teachers in today’s times as it says in 2^nd Timothy 4:3:

³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.

The reason they will be easily fooled by Satan himself is the very fact that they do not live in the Word.

 There are too many people that come to Christ and are either scared to dive into their Word, or they don’t think it is all that necessary.  The bible says in the last days there will be many that will be led astray. How do you think this will happen? People will not know the truth because they will be blinded by the false teachings that will fill our earth. Everything and anything is acceptable just not the word of God.

If the word has not come alive for folks, then how possibly can they know the truth?  So many people want to dictate what is acceptable to God, even bible believing, obedient Christians.  That is why, what people say can’t always be trusted.  We are supposed to test the spirit to see if it’s true and if it aligns with God’s word.  But if we don’t know the Word and if it doesn’t live in us, or we in it, then being fooled is an easy job for Satan, for Satan lurks and waits as it says in 1^st Peter 5:8:

Keep awake! Watch at all times. The devil is working against you. He is walking around like a hungry lion with his mouth open. He is looking for someone to eat.

This is why we need to live in the Word, let it become alive in us and let the spirit take up residency. The bible says to be in the world but not of the world. We must live in it and be it. Reading and hearing is one thing but living in and obeying two very different directions

I have a great example for you that should shed some light on this ideology.

Ok, so take for instance a prisoner in a jail. They are confined and have to do as they are told, eat when told to, sleep when told to, come out of the cell when told to and pretty much do as the guard and or warden want. Everything that goes on in there is planned and coordinated. Now, we can read about it and listen to what’s its like to be in there and even go as far as to watch a program about life inside, but I tell you the truth, you will never truly experience it to the fullest unless you actually live in it, live inside, and experience it every day dealing with all that it is and has to offer, it’s in the same way that you truly experience God and build a true relationship with Him, by living on the inside, by living in the Word. Like I already said, reading about it, watching it or listening to it is one thing, but to truly know what goes on you must live in it.

Living in it means being obedient to it, as it says in John 3:36:

³⁶ And anyone who believes in God’s Son has eternal life. Anyone who doesn’t obey the Son will never experience eternal life but remains under God’s angry judgment.”

How do we be obedient if we are not living in the Word, swimming around, exploring all the nooks and crannies? We can’t just assume we are doing the Will of God, if we don’t even know the Will of God. Let us open it up today. Just pick a book-any book in the New Testament and start there. Read a few verses or maybe a chapter. Let it soak in and read some theologians outtakes on it.           Search the net and read some commentary about it, let it talk to you and do some writing, take notes and learn it. This will help you grow exponentially!

Our goal as a Christian is to please the Lord. We may make some mistakes, but Jesus will forgive us. It’s all about our intimate relationship with Him. You don’t want to hear these words at the end when Jesus says, as in Matthew 7:21-23:

²¹ “Not everyone who calls out to me, ‘Lord! Lord!’ will enter the Kingdom of Heaven. Only those who actually do the will of my Father in heaven will enter. ²² On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’ ²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

What do we do to get good at something in life? Yes, we practice and study; we learn from those who have gotten good at it, right? If you wanted to play NFL football you wouldn’t go practice flag football with kindergarteners, or if you wanted to build a rocket to go to space you wouldn’t practice by building a model rocket. So it goes for living a disciples life; one who truly is doing the will of God. For that, you will need to live in the Word; become one with it, grip it like it’s the last thing there is to grip as you dangle off a cliff. It’s so much more than just a book to read, it is the living, powerful, life changing, never changing Word of God and as it says in John 1:

1In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2He was with God in the beginning. 3Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5The Light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.

Don’t be hearers of the Word, be doers.

I will leave you with this “Living in the word equals living in Jesus”