Word of God

‘Word of God’, we have heard this in church mentioned by the priest or pastors. But what is really the Word of God? For whom is this or is it? Who authored it? What is its purpose?

I am no theologian or Bible scholar but let me share to you what I’ve learned. Word of God refers to the Bible, the Holy Bible. It has an adjective pre-word since the Bible is revered to as THE WORD of GOD for us–meaning this is God’s letter to us–a LOVE letter in that sense. Why? It is because in it lies the inner revelation of a loving Almighty Father who took our sins away through the sacrificial death of His begotten Son (the Lord Jesus Christ) in a shameful, agonizing death on Calvary’s cross.

The Bible is God’s way of communicating to us. His answers to our prayers are there. It is meant for us to seek and search it–most especially, when we’re already His child! 

The story inside the Bible is His story, meaning God’s story of His love for us and His redemption for us from the eternal damnation of sin through His Son Jesus Christ. Have you ever written a love letter to somebody you love  or vice versa, have received a love letter from somebody you love? Either way, the feeling is enormous, right? It’s overwhelming. It’s exciting. You cannot wait to unfurl the revelations said there in the letter or you can’t wait to read through the letter until the end. It’s the same thing as the Bible’s intentions. It aims to unravel God’s love for us.

You might ask, what? Where can you find love in all those difficult names to pronounce in it and numbers of ceremonies mentioned in the Bible? Not to mention a litany of it. Not only difficult names and incomprehensible ceremonies, but also animals and foods are written there! That’s exactly how I felt when I first tried reading it. I was new in my relationship with Jesus Christ, and found it mysterious to find myself reading it through. I have never read a Bible. I went to a Catholic school back then but never had I the passion and interest to read it. Who would?

However, when I found my new faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, that’s when everything changed. I found myself thrown to the Word of God. I want it, as if I was craving much for food. It was like I was ‘eating’ and was gratified. It was a one of a kind satisfaction because it never runs dry. In food, there’s a finite aspect, meaning we get full after a hot meal and then starves again after 3 to 4 hours or the next day. With the Bible, my time with it was enough, it was sufficient. Joy, love and peace—these were non-negotiables when I was reading the Bible. I learned that it was God’s Spirit working in me. I’ve learned that human as we are, no way do we seek God or His things or about Him. We are seekers of our own, fleshly pursuits because we are fallen (take it from the creation story).  Yet as having iterated this, when we received the Lord Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and believed that He saved us from death in hell, God’s Spirit is sealed in us being the One to enable us to do, to be interested in spiritual things (Ephesians 1:13-14).  Thus, I became interested with God and His things.

A daily dose of the Scriptures in our daily schedule makes much difference already in our routine. 

So, it is not therefore our effort to love God. There is a will in us though that needs to be exerted but what I mean is, grace. Grace is even the one that is letting us think of God and choosing Him. You know, God loved us already even before we were saved, that is when were still sinners. What an amazing love that is! No one in this world would love us that way. Most of the love in the world are conditional. We are loved or rather loved back,  because we did something to be reciprocated. However, the Father’s love is different, it is unconditional. He loves you and me.

The Word of God is His ‘love letter’ to us. When you received the Lord Jesus Christ, you will have a different perspective and would come to understand it. You would comprehend it that it is the Father’s love letter to you.   Just as what happens in a loving relationship (with a friend, or a loved one  or family), two-way communication also transpires between us and God. God answers us through His written Word. A daily dose of it in our daily schedule is such difference already that it can do to our routine. Most especially, when you are a child of God.