The writer of the book of Hebrews says concerning the Word of God:
Hebrews 4:12 For the word of God is quick [living and active], and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged 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.
What is the Word of God that is so powerful? Is it the Bible?
The apostle John tells us:
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made. 4 In him was life; and the life was the light of men.
John 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
We can therefore ascertain that the Word of God is something that is alive, not words written on a piece of paper. I have already discussed this at length in Where Is God?. The Word of God is God Himself or Itself or the Spirit that speaks to us from the inside. The written Scriptures do not of themselves give life (John 5:39—“in them ye think ye have eternal life”). They are symbols, pictures or parables which, when we meditate upon them (Psalms 1:2), lead us to the Christ inside (John 5:39) who is Life, and who, through those scriptures, speaks to us the words of life (John 6:63—“the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life”).
When I attempt to receive instruction directly from the words written on the pages of the Bible (the “letter”) rather than from the Christ inside speaking to me as I meditate upon those written words, I find myself back under the law, “the ministration of death” (2Corinthians 3:7), not life— because “the letter killeth, but the spirit giveth life” (2Corinthians 3:6). Jesus Himself said that we may search the Scriptures expecting to find Life, but we won’t find it there; it is those Scriptures which lead us to to Him (the Christ) who is the Life (John 5:39). Those Scriptures are referred to in Scripture as “the book of the law” which, when we attempt to obey by the “letter,” becomes a “curse” to us (see Curse of the Law):
Galatians 3:10 For as many as are of the works of the law are under the curse: for it is written, Cursed is every one that continueth not in all things which are written in the book of the law to do them.
Those of us who, like Paul, have attempted to run our lives according to the written Word, have found this to be all too true. Paul tells us that this law is merely the “schoolmaster” who leads us to Christ who frees us from this law because we can never be “justified” by it (Galatians 3:24) since “by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Romans 3:20).
It is unfortunate that Westerners, being careful not to be associated with far Eastern religions, have avoided both using the term “meditate” and also engaging in the practice. But it is, after all, a biblical term and a practice very much advocated in Scripture. It doesn’t mean sitting in a yoga position and chanting a mantra until the mind is empty, but rather taking a portion of Scripture and getting quiet enough inside to think about it deeply, letting the mind “chew” on it for awhile, “swallowing” and afterwards “regurgitating” it to chew on again—as a cow chews its cud.
Psalms 1:2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in his law doth he meditate day and night.
Joshua 1:8 This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night,
Jeremiah 15:16 Thy words were found, and I did eat them;
Psalms 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart,
Psalms 119:15 I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. 16 I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word.
1Timothy 4:15 Meditate upon these things; give thyself wholly to them;
Genesis 24:63 And Isaac went out to meditate in the field at the eventide
These are but a few instances where the practice of meditation is encouraged in Scripture. And we know that Jesus spent many nights alone with His Father listening, so that he could both say and do only what He saw and heard during those times.
John 5:19 Then answered Jesus and said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, The Son can do nothing of himself, but what he seeth the Father do: for what things soever he doeth, these also doeth the Son likewise. 20 For the Father loveth the Son, and sheweth him all things that himself doeth: and he will shew him greater works than these, that ye may marvel.
John 12:49 For I have not spoken of myself; but the Father which sent me, he gave me a commandment, what I should say, and what I should speak.
When we follow this example of Jesus, we will often, as was also true with Jesus, find that others do not approve of what we are doing and saying and will use the written words of Scripture (the “law”) to “prove” that we did not get our instructions from God.
The Pharisees did this repeatedly when Jesus healed on the Sabbath (Mark 3:1-6; Luke 13:10-16; John 9:1-16), when He allowed His disciples to pluck and eat corn on the Sabbath (Matthew 12:1-8), and when He wouldn’t sanction the stoning of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:3-11).
Jesus was severely criticized by family members (John 7:1-5). His friends “went out to lay hold of him; for they said, He is beside himself” (Mark 3:21). On at least two occasions He appeared not to be entirely respectful toward his mother—at the wedding at Cana (John 2:4) and, again, when she and His brothers interrupted one of His teaching sessions:
Matthew 12:46 While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him. 47 Then one said unto him, Behold, thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to speak with thee. 48 But he answered and said unto him that told him, Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? 49 And he stretched forth his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! 50 For whosoever shall do the will of my Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother.
These are pretty strong words, but not as strong as those He speaks to us:
Luke 14:26 If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.
Of course He is not asking us to “hate” family members as the term “hate” is usually understood (since we are to love even our enemies—Matthew 5:44). He is rather telling us that our commitment to follow as the Spirit leads has to be strong enough for us to persevere even when those closest to us object so vehemently that we sense that not doing what they feel (and can even “prove” with Scripture) we should be doing will either be incurring their “hate” or causing them to feel “hated” by us.
I think this may be one of the severest trials of our faith. It provides an opportunity for us to trust God to keep those relationships intact when we cannot see how they can remain so. We take comfort as we hear from the inside:
Proverbs 16:7 When a man’s ways please the Lord, he maketh even his enemies to be at peace with him.
We know that those people we love so much, and who in turn love us so much, are not really our enemies. We know this because we remember Ephesians 6 where immediately after talking about those relationships, Paul goes on to say:
Ephesians 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. 11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to STAND. 14 STAND therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; 15 And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; 16 Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: 18 Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;
(For an extensive treatment of the above Scripture, see Powers and Principalities and Rulers of the Darkness)
We therefore STAND as yet another Scripture is brought to our remembrance which also admonishes us to STAND:
“Stand still, and see the salvation of the Lord” (Exodus 14:13; 2Chronicles 20:17).
—because we hear inside “the battle is not yours, but God’s” (2Chronicles 20:15).
We can hear those Scriptures spoken from the inside (not from the letters on the page) because we have been meditating on these and other Scriptures day and night. They are in our minds and hearts as we lie down as as we get up and all through the day. They are constantly speaking to us, encouraging us, correcting us, challenging us—because we have taken seriously the words of Solomon to his son (really the words of God to us, His children):
Proverbs 4:20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings. 21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart. 22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
We experience the “life” that comes from the Word of God only to the extent that we hear it from the inside and act upon what we hear, saying and doing only what we see and hear during those times of communion.
When we attempt to reason things out by using the written word as a manual for righteous behavior, we become subject to the law which produces judgment, condemnation, strife, confusion and every evil work (James 3:16). What we need to do is receive God’s righteousness as a free gift that has nothing to do with our behavior and then allow Him to live out His righteousness through our bodies in any way He chooses.
It is fear that keeps us from accepting God’s righteousness without the law (grace). There is fear on the part of the ones enforcing the law (using the Bible as a moral code rather than a schoolmaster to lead us to the Christ within for our direction) who are afraid that grace will give people a license to sin:
Romans 6:1 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?
But, in truth, the opposite is true. It is the law that stirs up the sinful desires:
Romans 7:5 (NIV) For when we were in the realm of the flesh, the sinful passions aroused by the law were at work in us, so that we bore fruit for death.
And there is also fear on the part of the one who subjects himself to the law rather than living under grace—fear that he will be deceived, fear that he will not be accepted and approved, either by God or by the people he loves, if his behavior is not what is expected.
If my particular interpretation of the Bible is the basis for my feeling accepted by God, I must of necessity insist that others read it as I do; for therein lies my sense of security. The existence of denominations amongst Christians is this principle in operation. How many atrocities have been committed by earnest people thinking they were doing God’s will because of what they read in the Bible or had been taught by their religious leaders. Saul of Tarsus comes to mind as a prime example. Paul tells us that these people have “a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge” (Romans 10:2). They are not deliberately wicked people, just people worshiping a false concept of God.
John told us that this would continue to happen:
John 16:2 They shall put you out of the synagogues: yea, the time cometh, that whosoever killeth you will think that he doeth God service.
We know from the words of Jesus that there is more than one way to “kill” a person (Matthew 5:21-26).
The Amish religious sect, though opposed to violence to such an extent that they will not take up arms in a war, will “shun” their own children who do not read and practice the Scriptures as they do. The sect possibly could not remain intact if this were not the case. Most of the denominations probably wouldn’t either. Controlling its members by one means or another is what keeps most religious organizations afloat.
Our feeling that we need to manipulate and control others comes from the fear that we lack something—which, bottom line, is the sense of belonging to a loving God who is our total sufficiency, providing our needs even before we ask, a God who will not judge and condemn us but rather care for us and protect us as a mother hen cares for her chicks. We feel that we have to find our own provision in order to feel secure. This results in a lack of trust in God—which leads to a trust in ourselves to know what the right thing is and enforce it.
Even the “doctor of the law” Gamaliel (the same one who had been the instructor of Saul of Tarsus) had an understanding that is seemingly lacking in so many Christians who are still attempting to control other Christians by administering the “law.” When the Jewish leaders were trying to curtail the teaching and activity of the disciples, Gamaliel very wisely pointed out that if what the disciples were doing were not “of God,” it would “come to nought,” but if it were “of God, ye cannot overthrow it; lest haply ye be found even to fight against God” (Acts 5:38-39).
In other words, spiritual laws are in operation which are for our benefit and protection. We don’t have to judge whether another’s behavior is right or wrong. We will see soon enough if it is the “work of the flesh” or “fruit of the Spirit.” If we oppose it and it is the latter, we may find ourselves “fighting against God.”
As Gamaliel noted, if the words or activity is not coming from the person or people being directed by the Word of God that they are hearing from within, it will “come to nought”; but if, on the other hand, as in the case of the disciples, it is coming from intimate relationship with the Spirit within, it will be beneficial to all concerned—if they have eyes to see and ears to hear. When we are set upon having it our own way, even though we are using the written Scriptures to justify our words and actions, we can miss the blessing being given to us by God, making our lives difficult when God is attempting to bring to us the “life abundant” (John 10:10) where the yoke is easy and the burden is light and we can find rest for our souls (Matthew 11:28-30).
In this matter of the “Word,” God is again setting before us life and death; and we get to choose. We can choose the “ministration of condemnation” (2Corinthians 3:9) which is the “letter” that “killeth”—or the written Word which becomes law because it is coming from outside us rather than being spoken to us from within as we meditate upon it “day and night.”
Or we can choose the “ministration of righteousness” (2Corinthians 3:9), accepting the free gift of righteousness without the law, which enables us to cease from our condemnation of ourselves and others. Then we are at liberty to hear the voice of the Spirit speaking the Word of God to us from the inside, bringing Life to us and to all those we are in relationship with as they receive from us, not judgment and condemnation, but rather the love that has been shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost” (Romans 5:5) within—the Spirit with whom we are in constant communion.
John 6:63 It is the spirit that quickeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing: the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.