Making the Bible Come Alive?

Tim Challies brings up a great point as he considers the way the Bible is marketed nowadays. Have you ever read or heard someone advertise that their book or product will "make the Bible come alive" or "bring the Word to life"? Challies writes:

I object. Every Christian ought to familiarize himself with the incredible words of Hebrew 4:12 which read, “For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.” The Word, it seems, is already alive. And like the living Lazarus, it has no need for us to breathe life into it. That is no cause for boasting; no cause for acclaim; no headline for marketing materials. The Bible is alive. We can’t make it more so.

So, so, so true! I am amazed at how quickly we abandon the Bible because it doesn't seem relevant to our lives. In my experience, while the Bible can be a challenge to read and is certainly not always easy, it IS ALIVE. We may need help understanding it (a good translation is helpful) and we may need to read it carefully and really think about what it is saying, but just because it makes us stop and listen and think, doesn't mean it is dead or irrelevant. The Word is alive and our need to "make it alive" is more a commentary on the state of our hearts than on the power of God's Word.