Encouraging Authentic Relatable Engagement with God's Word
Authentic engagement with God's Word involves a personal and experiential knowledge that extends beyond mere intellectual understanding [6]. This engagement is characterized by a "true heart in fullness of faith" [1] and a commitment to living out its principles.
One key aspect of this engagement is the concept of communion with God, which is maintained through both the Word and prayer [7]. As Matthew Henry notes, "In the word God speaks to us; in prayer we speak to him" [7]. The Word of God can furnish believers with material for prayer and incite them to it [7]. This reciprocal communication is vital for a deep relationship with God. The Apostle Paul, for instance, requested prayers that God would open a "door for the word" so he could speak the "mystery of Christ" [4]. Similarly, Hosea encourages taking "words" with you, suggesting that using words God himself has provided, such as in prayer, carries particular potency [10].
Engagement with God's Word also involves a focused commitment and endurance [8]. For God's truth to become part of one's character, a "habitual commitment" is required [9]. This commitment is demonstrated through acts of love and good works, which are seen as characteristics of true Christian dedication [11]. The Colossian believers were encouraged to have their hearts "knit together in love" to achieve "full assurance of their understanding" and a "personal knowledge of the sacred secret of God—Christ" [3].
Furthermore, the Word of God is understood to be sanctified "through God's Word and prayerful intercourse" [2]. This suggests that the Word itself, when engaged with prayerfully, has a transformative power. The teaching of the Word also implies a responsibility for those who receive instruction to contribute to the support of those who teach it, as Adam Clarke notes on Galatians 6:6, highlighting the importance of valuing and sustaining the ministry of the Word [5]. The intimate knowledge indicated by the Hebrew word translated "been intimate" (as in Amos 3:2) signifies a personal and experiential understanding that goes beyond intellectual assent, encompassing formal recognition, personal experience, and even relational intimacy [6].
Sources
- Hebrews “let’s draw near with a true heart in fullness of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and having our body washed with pure water, -- Hebrews 10:22”
- I Timothy “I Timothy 4:5 (LITV) — for through God's Word and prayerful intercourse, it is sanctified.”
- Colossians “Colossians 2:2 (Rotherham) — In order that their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, even unto all the riches of the full assurance of their understanding, unto a personal knowledge of the sacred secret of God,—Christ:”
- Colossians “praying together for us also, that God may open to us a door for the word, to speak the mystery of Christ, for which I am also in bonds; -- Colossians 4:3”
- Galatians (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Galatians 6:6: Let him that is taught in the word - He who receives instructions in Christianity by the public preaching of the word; Communicate unto him that teacheth - Contribute to the support of the man who has dedicated himself to the work of the ministry, and who gives up his time and his life to preach the Gospel. It appears that some of the believers in Galatia could receive the Christian ministry without contributing to its support. This is both ungrateful and base. We do not expect that a common schoolmaster will give up his time to teach our children their alphabet w”
- Amos (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Amos 3:2: 3:2 The word translated been intimate indicates personal and experiential knowledge that often extends beyond mere intellectual awareness. It can indicate formal recognition and acknowledgment (Exod 1:8; 5:2), personal experience (Gen 2:17), or sexual relations (Gen 4:1). This word is frequently used of God’s relationship with Israel (Hos 5:3) and of Israel’s ideal relationship with God (Hos 2:20). Because of Israel’s privileged status, God would hold them accountable for all their sins, not just some of them. God holds people accountable in terms of what has been gi”
- Genesis (Nonconformist/Puritan) “Matthew Henry on Genesis 18:23: Communion with God is kept up by the word and by prayer. In the word God speaks to us; in prayer we speak to him. God had revealed to Abraham his purposes concerning Sodom; now from this Abraham takes occasion to speak to God on Sodom's behalf. Note, God's word then does us good when it furnishes us with matter for prayer and excites us to it. When God has spoken to us, we must consider what we have to say to him upon it. Observe, I. The solemnity of Abraham's address to God on this occasion: Abraham drew near, Gen 18:23. The expression intimates, 1. A holy conc”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 6:12: 6:12 A focused commitment (6:10-11) is the antidote to being spiritually dull (5:11-12). By loving God and others, we follow the example of great people of the faith. The author puts a great deal of emphasis on both faith and endurance as normal requirements for God’s people (see 11:4-38).”
- Psalms (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Psalms 26:3: 26:3 For God’s truth to become part of one’s character requires a habitual commitment.”
- Hosea (Methodist/Wesleyan) “Adam Clarke on Hosea 14:2: Take with you words - And you may be assured that you pray aright, when you use the words which God himself has put in your mouths. On this very ground there is a potency in the Lord's Prayer, when offered up believingly, beyond what can be found in any human composition. And it may be presumed that it was this consideration that induced our reformers to introduce it so frequently in the public liturgy. See the order of God's directions here: - 1. Hearing these merciful invitations, believe them to be true. 2. Cast aside your idols; and return to God as your Maker, ”
- Hebrews (Protestant academic) “Tyndale House on Hebrews 10:24: 10:24 Acts of love and good works characterize true Christian commitment (6:10; 10:32-34; Gal 5:13; 1 Thes 1:3; Rev 2:19).”