It seems every day my email inbox has another offer to buy a Christian book that will tell me how to view God, how to live my life, what holiness is, what I should know about Christ, etc. I seldom bite on those offers.

When others ask me what I am reading I am inclined to say that I’m reading my Bible. That doesn’t mean I don’t like a good Christian book. I have read some excellent ones, “The Pursuit of God” by A W Tozer, the “Holiness of God,” by R C Sproul, and others. And I do love good commentaries that help me to understand the background of the verses I read. But I don’t want to get in the habit of replacing my Bible with other books.

There are two things about the Word of God that I have oft repeated. One, the Scripture, our Bible, is the only book that is “alive!” It is God’s Very Word and is able to expose all things, even our deepest motivations.

“For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.” [Hebrews 4:12 NLT]

The second thing is that the Word of God reads us as we read it.

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.” [2Timothy 3:16-17 NLT]

It shows us where we are. It makes corrections in our walk. It teaches and prepares. No book other than the Word of God, no matter how excellent, is alive and able to read us.