The Living Word is Us, November 28, 2025

Do you wonder as to whom to turn… to listen to when it comes to following Jesus? How much of our thinking is based on the opinions of others? 80-90 percent? 50 percent? Less than 20 percent? Let’s look at it this way: How much of our doctrine is based on reading God’s Word? I must admit about 50 percent of my time is directly in the Scriptures. The other half is indirectly spent in Scriptures referenced in sermons or commentary: C.H. Spurgeon, Martin Lloyd-Jones, Matthew Henry. How much time do I spend in God’s Word? Three to seven hours a day, either directly or indirectly. Now, please note that I’m retired. Most of you don’t have the time that I have on my hands to pick up the Bible. Still, the point that I’m trying to make? Well, if the Holy Spirit indwells me, shouldn’t I seek his instruction as a part of that wonderful intimacy that I say I desire with him? After all, he is the One I ought to listen to – right? I say that, yes, but do I? I haven’t always. I allowed the opinions of others to direct me, especially related to eschatology. So, to whom did I listen? Well, pastors, family, and friends that I wanted to approve of me, but then the day came that I realized that I wanted Father’s approval more than anyone else’s on earth. I next realized that I could no more trust myself in rightly divided Word of God than anyone else. You see, what is the rightly divided Word of God? The rightly divided Word of God is knowing the living Word and I know its living because I’m living it! All the rest? Dead works.      

 

Sometimes my heart and my mind functions as well as my hearing aids: not well at all. There’s so much external noise… a virtual surround sound of competing doctrines… interpretations… spiritual gifts… yet, we’re told there is One Spirit… One Father… One Bridegroom… One Bride… One Holy Spirit… One Word of God; that is, the Bible – Old and New Testament. Those in Christ are told to study to shew themselves approved workmen. Why would we be told to do that if God’s Word can’t be rightly divided by the average Joe?