Master or Mastered?

“But Jesus told him, ‘No! The Scriptures say, “People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.”’” (Matthew 4:4 NLT)

As a believer in the God of the Bible it should be the aim of all of us to walk humbly and faithfully before our Master, the Lord Jesus Christ. “But how?” is often the cry of our heart. The two primary ways of learning the ways of the Lord are to become avid readers and learners of God’s Word, the Bible, and, secondly, to become earnest seekers of His still, small voice.

Reading the Bible is easy, but hearing God’s voice as He speaks to us through His Word takes time and practice. In the verse above Jesus gives us a glimpse into what we need. We need sustenance for our physical bodies, but we draw spiritual nourishment from the words of God.

The clear implication of Jesus’ words to the religious leaders of His day and to us is to view the words of the Bible as words directly from the mouth of God, but that’s not all. God speaks in many ways beyond the words of Scripture. Granted, that is the primary way, but He also speaks to us through circumstances, through other godly people, through experiences we have that may be unique to us, and, as we grow more tuned to His voice, He speaks directly to us through our spirit. In many ways He speaks as a parent to a child.

My experience has been that what He speaks to us personally will always be verified through His written word. He will never say anything to us that contradicts or is in violation of what He has taught us through His holy Word, the Bible. Which begs the question: What does His Word say? Of course, that’s the purpose of becoming a student of His words but reading the Bible once through doesn’t constitute a thorough knowledge and understanding of all He has said.

As D. A. Carson has so insightfully written: “The aim is never to become a master of the Word, but to be mastered by it.” How does that happen? By continually reading, thoroughly studying, and carefully applying what we’re learning in Scripture. Having read the Bible through many times over the years, I find it interesting that I can read a familiar verse as if I’m seeing it for the first time.

Often our life’s circumstances will dictate a closer look, a deeper meaning, and a more personal application. God’s words are never static, lacking in movement or action. They are, on the other hand, very dynamic, moving, and vary in impact. God’s words demand movement, often from where we’re stuck in any given moment, to where He’s calling us to go and be.

Our various applications of God’s Words will never change their original meaning but can expand that meaning as the Lord shows us specific ways He would have us see, understand, and respond to what He’s saying to us in this moment. Being mastered by God’s words implies a strong devotion to and a willingness to be submissive to God’s authority as revealed through His holy Word.

God’s words should always take precedence over our own words (i.e. what our “heart” is telling us). As God spoke through the Prophet Jeremiah: “The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.” To master God’s Word is to be mastered by it’s Author.

Food for thought.

Blessings, Ed 😊