Matthew 4:4 – People do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of GOD.

This life is a journey of growth and understanding. The Word is what brings the growth AND the understanding. We are talking about a Word that is more than words on our pages or from our mouths. We are talking about The Word – a Heavenly Personality. And we get to know this Personality better when we read HIS written word to us – the Bible (or the Torah).

Matthew 13:19-23 tells us a parable about those who hear the Word and may not understand, so the enemy has a chance to steal it – or they may understand and gladly receive it, but they don’t have enough experience so troubles in this life cause them to fall away – or they will hear the Word and then it’s crowded out by worries, and distractions of this life, and the lure of wealth … the Word is suffocated and cannot produce fruit. But the Word that is truly heard and understood and fully received bears fruit and produces a harvest. This is real change!

Most of us desire to be better people, and bookstores have a section called self-improvement.  I’ve shopped those sections many times in my past, wanting to learn how to improve my knowledge, my character, my financial status, my relationships. 

It finally dawned on me that I was trying to improve my “self” – my flesh – my old nature – by myself. (!) That’s not going to do any good.  There is no hope in improving one’s self.  Our Hope is in the washing of the water of HIS WORD! It is the only way we will be truly transformed!

Ephesians 5:25-27 – CHRIST loved the church and gave HIS life for her and makes her holy and pure, cleansing her through the showering of the pure water of the Word of GOD. (The MSG – CHRIST’s Love is marked by giving, not getting. HIS Love makes the church whole. HIS Word evokes her beauty. Everything HE does and says (HIS Word) is designed to bring out the best in her…)

How much can this Word of GOD do? (You might ask) Well – This Word spoke the whole universe into existence: John 1:1-4,14 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with GOD and the Word was GOD. HE existed in the beginning with GOD. GOD created EVERYTHING through HIM (The Word), and nothing was created except through HIM. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and HIS life brought light to everyone.…. And the Word became flesh and made HIS home among us.

Because we are talking about GOD in this verse, we are talking about a being Who is not limited or contained by time – no past, present, or future verbs will hold HIM in a box. While this verse was referring to a point in time on our timeline, it is not limited to just the point in time that JESUS (The Word – GOD in the flesh) walked on this earth. Romans 8:29 tells us that GOD knew us all before we were born and HE destined us from the beginning to share the likeness of HIS Son. This means the Son is the oldest among a vast family of brothers and sisters who will become just like HIM. The Word made flesh and walking on this earth! (John 1:14) Today – that’s you!

We are being changed into the Image of this Heavenly Personality every time we read the Bible or Torah. And as we change, we affect our community around us!

2 Corinthians 3:18 – But we all, with unveiled faces, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the LORD, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the LORD.

(NLT – So all of us who have had the veil removed can see and reflect the glory of the LORD. And the LORD – Who is the Spirit – makes us more and more like HIM as we are changed into HIS glorious Image.)

(The Message Bible says “face to face” – GOD removes the veil and there they are – face to face… nothing between us and GOD, our faces shining with the brightness of HIS face. AND SO, we are transfigured much like the Messiah, our lives gradually becoming brighter and more beautiful as GOD enters our lives and we become like HIM.) 

Beholding the glory of the LORD produces a desire in us to choose – choose HIS glory, HIS goodness, HIS forgiveness, HIS faithfulness – Face to face is the best way to see Him!!  This is what transforms us into HIS image!!  Not more knowledge – but more relationship.  Keep looking at HIM!  Allow the ways of “self”-improvement to be uncertain and unsure, and choose instead to be sure of GOD’s ways to change you through the written scriptures. Be transformed by The Word!