Intimidating

So I was talking to a friend the other day who is very new to faith. She had just bought a Bible for the first time and I asked if she had read it yet.I was so excited for her to dig in and to begin exploring and learning.  Her reply was one that took me a little off guard. She said "Not yet. It's a bit intimidating." This was not what I was expecting to hear.


Usually when I get something new, I want to unwrap it and use it right away. The excitement usually gets the best of me. However, as I thought about her statement it hit me and my response was this, "The Word of God should intimidate everyone. if it doesn't there is something wrong with you."


The more I thought about that conversation, the more truth rang in my heart about it and convicted me. If I look at the Bible as more than one of the books on my shelf or the thing I read in the morning each day and instead truly look at it as the inspired word of the God of the universe - man that rocks me a bit. 


I have so easily looked past the first word that appears on the front of many that I own: "Holy". I have read the words inside it many times and let it touch my heart and change my life, but can I honestly say that when I pick it up I think of it as something more than familiar? I think for me, and probably many of you, it has become to familiar. An old friend of sorts that we go to take comfort in and learn from, both honorable and desirable things. But it should intimidate us as well. 


The words in it are the words that God himself chose to share with us to mold and shape us in to who He created us to be. The words have the power to literally change lives. 


God spoke. 


To me.


To you.


GOD SPOKE!


And we have those words at our finger tips. Amazing? Yes. Intimidating? Heck YES! And it took a simple phrase from someone who is at this point exploring what it means to have a relationship with Jesus to remind me of that.  


I am thankful for the reminder and the glimpse of God's words through the eyes of one seeking. It changed me.

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. Hebrews 4:12