The Bible is alive; it speaks to me. It has feet; it runs after me. It has hands; it lays hold of me!” So said Martin Luther many years ago. I wonder if you noticed that in this quote, he employs the literary technique of anthropomorphism—he applies the attributes of a person to the Bible. He declares that the Bible has qualities of life: that it has a voice and can speak, that it has feet and can run, that it has hands and can grasp.
If you have studied the life of Luther, you’ll know that in a time of great spiritual torment he committed himself to a careful study of the Bible. As he agonized over it day after day, he came to an understanding that transformed his life and, through the Protestant Reformation, transformed the world. He came to see for himself that the Bible truly is “living and abiding” (1 Peter 1:23).
And Luther was right! The Bible has life and the Bible brings life because it has been spoken by God. The Bible’s life, its voice, its feet, and hands are the life, voice, feet, and hands of God extended toward his people. For that reason among others it is always worthy of our time, our attention, and our dedication. Have you read your Bible today?
