Words of Life!
October 11
The words I have spoken to you are spirit and they are life.
John 6:63
“Mom?” Steph said, calling for her attention. “Jesus said that our flesh counts
for nothing and that only the Spirit gives us life. Then He said the words He
spoke are spirit and life. Is He referring to the written word alone? Or do His
spoken words have more meaning for us?”
Steph had been given a religion class assignment to explain what spiritual life
meant to her. She’d focused on the New Testament, the red-lettered spoken words
of Jesus, to be more precise.
“Well, what do you think He’s saying?” her mom prompted, wanting her to
answer the question for herself before she received any outside influence.
“I guess I think it’s a combination of both,” she said with a tinge of unresolved doubt.
“So why do you feel He meant both?” Mom asked.
“Well, first of all, I believe He’s talking about the natural life versus the
spiritual life, specifically, eternal life versus eternal damnation. And that if
we rely on ourselves for all the answers, we’ll become introspective and self-
deceived by thinking we can walk through life apart from God without any
need of a Savior.” Then she added, “I believe when we speak God’s written
word, it comes alive, you know, sharper than any two-edged sword. So what do
you think?” she asked.
“Sounds to me like you’ve got things well in hand, honey,” Steph’s mom
said, noting the twinkle of satisfaction in her daughter’s eyes.
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How many times have you read, read, and reread the same verse of Scripture
only to have it jump off the pages in one blindingly revealing moment? Every-
one who has ever been a student of Scripture will have this phenomenon occur
many times over his or her studies of the Bible.
It is the inherent Word of God, our lifeblood, which the Holy Spirit opens for our
understanding as we prayerfully read. God intended us to study His Word in order
that we would, through that nourishing act, receive the life of the Spirit.
Prayer
“Lord, reveal spirit and life to me as I read Your
written account of the story of Your love for me
and all mankind. In Jesus’ Name, amen.”
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