RESPONSE TO THE WORD

     By A. W. Tozer

    The word of God. . . is sharper than any two-edged
    sword.                                           -  -  Hebrews 4:12

         Men and women who read and study the Scriptures for
     their literary beauty alone have missed the whole purpose
     for which they were given.

         God's Word is not to be enjoyed as one might "enjoy" a
     Beethoven symphony or a poem by Wordsworth.

         The reason: the Bible demands immediate action, faith,
     surrender, committal.  Until it has  secured  these,  it has
     done nothing positive for the reader, but it has increased
     his  responsibility  and deepened the judgment that must
     follow.

         The  Bible  was called forth by the fall of man.  It is the
     voice of God calling men home from the wilds of sin; it is
     a  road  map for  returning prodigals. It is instruction in
     righteousness, light in darkness, information about God
     and man and life and death and heaven and hell.

         Further, the destiny of each individual depends
     upon the response to that Voice in the Word!

---

     Yours in Christ,
     Paul N. F.