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All Scripture references are New International Version (NIV), Copyright 1978 by New York International Bible Society

The Word to Live By

by Kim D. Headlee
Copyright 1993

This was the first passage I devoured as a newborn Christian to commence my lifelong quest for truth. Today it holds more meaning for me than ever before.

After a church service one Sunday I was meditating on my pastor's frequent use of the term "Bible-believing." I will be the first to attest to the Scriptural soundness of his teachings. But to me, the term "Bible-believing" seemed to be turning into another popular buzzword, carrying about as much impact and meaning as "user-friendly."

Fortunately, God straightened me out.

Words are my livelihood. Two livelihoods, in fact. By day, a computer is my "audience" as I stitch special words into certain patterns to order it to perform vital tasks at my office. Whenever time permits during my off hours, I work for what I hope is a more receptive audience. To that end I am forever attempting to reshape tired phrases into vibrant new creations.

Thus is was only natural for me to apply my mental tailor's chalk and pins to the phrase "Bible-believing." The result?

Bible-be-living!

At once John 1:1 sprang to mind. Wealthy in its wisdom and sleek in its simplicity, John 1:1 is one of the few verses that is word-for-word identical in every major English translation of the Bible. This is God's way of underscoring the importance of His message: to doubt the Word is to doubt God, and to walk with the Word is to walk with Him.

Yes, I am a "Bible-believer." And now, thanks to a gentle nudge from the Lord, I am also striving to be a better "Bible-liver."

Publication history:

His Garden, vol. 1, issue 4, Summer 1993