Articles: It’s Personal - 300 words, 1000 words, In PDF format
It’s Personal
The Heart of God Revealed in His Word
The title is simple yet profound: “It’s Personal.” When we open the Bible, we encounter something deeply intimate—the very thoughts and heart of the living God spoken directly to us. Proverbs 23:7 captures this truth plainly: “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Our innermost thoughts are not neutral; they shape our identity and drive our actions. What we dwell on flows into every area of life: relationships, work, finances, choices, and character. The speaker emphasizes, “Be careful what you think about. And be very careful about what you believe.” Incorrect thoughts lead to real consequences; right beliefs transform everything.
Even secular people intuitively grasp this connection. When someone makes a reckless decision, we ask, “What were you thinking?” The answer is often, “I wasn’t.” Clear thinking produces wise actions; distorted thinking produces distorted behavior. Yet when Christians affirm that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven—because He and His Word declare it—many react defensively: “That’s personal. Don’t talk to me about it.” Truth, however, does not bend to personal preference. It stands firm regardless of acceptance or rejection.
God’s Word itself is the most personal revelation imaginable. What could be more intimate than the mind and heart of the Creator? Most of us guard our private thoughts fiercely—journal entries or diaries are kept hidden. Yet God has done the opposite. He has published His deepest truths in 66 books, translated into countless languages and made freely available worldwide. From the invention of the printing press to today’s internet, access to Scripture is virtually costless. We have the privilege—and responsibility—to read and hear the actual words of the living God.
The speaker invites us to listen afresh to God’s heart, reading from Colossians 1. Written by real people—Paul and Timothy—to real believers in the ancient city of Colossae (in modern-day Turkey), this letter brims with personal warmth. Paul gives thanks for the Colossians’ faith in Christ and love for all the saints, rooted in the hope laid up in heaven. The gospel is bearing fruit worldwide, just as it did among them through the ministry of Epaphras, a faithful servant.
Paul prays earnestly that they be filled with the knowledge of God’s will, walking worthy of the Lord, fruitful in good works, strengthened with patience and joy. He celebrates that the Father has qualified believers to share in the inheritance of the saints in light, delivering them from the power of darkness and transferring them into the kingdom of His beloved Son. In Christ is redemption through His blood—the forgiveness of sins.
The passage then magnifies Christ’s supremacy: He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. By Him all things—visible and invisible, thrones, dominions, powers—were created and are sustained. He is before all things and holds everything together. As head of the church, He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, having preeminence in all. It pleased the Father that all fullness dwell in Him, and through the blood of His cross, He reconciles all things—on earth and in heaven.
Formerly, we were alienated and enemies in our minds by wicked works. Yet Christ reconciled us through His death to present us holy, blameless, and above reproach—if we continue grounded and steadfast in the faith. This is breathtakingly personal: the infinite God cares for specks on a speck, enduring crucifixion to redeem us.
Nothing is hidden from God. Luke 8:17 declares, “There is nothing hidden that will not be disclosed.” 1 Timothy 5:24-25 adds that sins and good works, whether evident now or later, cannot ultimately be concealed. Even at 3 a.m., God sees. Jonah learned this dramatically when fleeing to sea; he could not escape God’s sight. The speaker asks: If we journal our thoughts, how comfortable would we be making them public? God has done exactly that—revealing His heart openly, inviting us to read without condemnation.
The Bible’s reliability bolsters its personal authority. Thousands of ancient manuscripts on papyrus, animal skins, clay, and even copper confirm textual accuracy. The Dead Sea Scrolls, discovered decades ago and hidden for two millennia, match our modern Bibles word-for-word in the original languages. This is not myth but verifiable history.
God’s Word is both personal and perfect. It speaks to real people facing real struggles—gas for the car, groceries, work pressures—just as it spoke to the Colossians. Through it, we have a window into the Creator’s heart. Like the Bereans, we are commended for searching the Scriptures to verify truth.
Returning to the opening proverb, the speaker urges caution: “Be careful about what you think, what you dwell on, and therefore what you believe.” Incorrect thoughts carry consequences; correct thoughts lead to life. Reject lies, embrace truth, and continue steadfast in the hope of the gospel.
This message is uplifting because it reveals a God who loves personally, redeems sacrificially, and invites us into eternal relationship. The Bible is not distant doctrine but the living God’s heartfelt words—personal, powerful, and true.
It’s Personal
The Bible is profoundly personal. In Proverbs 23:7, we read, “For as he thinks in his heart, so is he.” Our innermost thoughts shape who we are and what we do. What we dwell on flows into our actions, relationships, decisions about money, work, and everything else in life. Be careful what you think, because beliefs—especially active, heartfelt ones—carry real consequences.
Even the world recognizes this truth. When someone makes a foolish mistake, we instinctively ask, “What were you thinking?” Clear thinking leads to right actions; warped thinking leads to warped behavior. Yet when confronted with the claim that Jesus Christ is the only way to heaven, many respond, “That’s personal—don’t talk to me about it.” Truth, however, remains true regardless of how many accept or reject it.
God’s Word itself is the ultimate personal revelation. Nothing is more intimate than the mind and heart of the living God, yet He has made His thoughts public through Scripture. Unlike a private diary, the Bible is openly shared—translated, printed, and now freely accessible online. God invites us to read the very words from His heart.
In Colossians 1, Paul and Timothy write to real people in Colossae, thanking God for their faith and praying they walk worthy of the Lord. They celebrate that believers are delivered from darkness, redeemed through Christ’s blood, and qualified for an eternal inheritance. Jesus is the image of the invisible God, Creator of all, and head of the church. Through His cross, He reconciles enemies—once alienated in mind and deed—to present them holy before God.
This message is personal because God speaks directly to each of us. He sees everything; nothing is hidden. Yet He freely offers forgiveness and relationship. The Bible’s reliability is confirmed by thousands of ancient manuscripts, including the Dead Sea Scrolls, proving the text we hold is the same as the original.
Be careful what you think and believe. Align your heart with God’s truth. The consequences are eternal.