Of course, the Bible is clearly the best tool for drawing near to God.  Everybody knows that.  Even on the natural level the Bible will teach you all kinds of nuggets about how to live your life, about how to avoid trouble, attract good, get along with other people, and take care of your husband, your wife and your kids, your momma and your daddy; your boss or your employee.  The Bible is full of great stories about how just ordinary people “subdued kingdoms, worked righteousness, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, quenched the violence of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, out of weakness were made strong, became valiant in battle, turned to flight the armies of the aliens. Women received their dead raised to life again.”  (Heb. 11:34) Wow! 

            Hebrews 4:12 says, “For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, of the joints and the marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.”  Wow! again.              Two important points to remember:

            1] Using the Words of God in prayer and in talking to other people about God is more effective than any other words you can use, because it helps you and them to see what is really going on in their own lives.  The Words in the Bible help people to understand life.  

            2] As you “store the Word of God in your heart” (see Psalm 119:11; Deut. 6:6) you begin to be able to discern what is going on in peoples’ hearts (including your own), because the Word of God works its way out of you as God uses you as His instrument to achieve His purposes.  This gift of discernment is not to use against people, but so you can discern how best to pray for them, love them and serve them.

            The Word of God is one of the best tools God gives us to draw nearer to Him, and to draw nearer to others, especially to those who truly love God and are surrendering themselves to Him.

What do you think?  .   .   . What do you do?

1] Do you read the Bible every day?

2] Do you memorize Bible verses regularly?

3] Does the Bible have an influence on the way you look at the world?

4] Do you use God’s Word(s) in you personal speech?

5] Do you really believe what the Bible says?  Would you stake your life on it?