When we plunge into the Word of God, do we treat it as though we are the surgeon or scientist? Are we out to make the Word prove itself to us? Does our analytical approach make us “master” over the text?

How about this: how about allowing the Bible surprise you with its familiar words? Instead of us scrutinizing the Scripture, how about we let the Word examine us? That would truly be living dead. In reading we sense God’s utter joy. We can begin to see his thoughts. We can hear his words of discipline to us.

Too often we are ready to examine the text and leave it at that. What we need far more often is to allow the text to examine us.