The Work of the Word

I don't think it was coincidence that I was praying for my children today that God's Word would become precious to them--"more precious than gold, than much fine gold; sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb" (Ps.19:10). As I was spending some time in the Scriptures I read Paul's words to the church of Thessalonica in 1Thessalonians 2:13 Paul gives a reason for thanking God for this local body of believers--"when you received from us the word of God's message, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs it's work in you who believe." I believe that many of us approach the word of God as if it is the word of men and not for what it really is--THE WORD OF GOD. After all, if what we read is the word of men then it is certainly not authoritative, definitive, or sufficient. We can find flaws, disagree, and justify behavior inconsistent with what it says if it is the word of men. But if it is the Word of God then most of us will have to grapple with the fact that our behavior doesn't consistently reflect submission to the authority of God's Word. We like to do what we like to do and we don't like being told to do otherwise. But think about it--God's Word to us. God actually speaks to us through the Word of God. His promises will be fulfilled, His power will be manifest, His punishment will be experienced by those who rebel, His mercy, forgiveness, compassion, and love are genuine. Not only that, but His word "also performs its work in you who believe." God is at work in us to "will and to do of his good pleasure" (Phil.2:13). He uses His Word to perform His work. Do we truly want to be Christlike? Do we truly want to be transformed into the image of Christ? It is God's word that works in us. So each of us needs to see that time in the word is essential if we are to be transformed.

Spending time with God in His word is not some legalistic mandate, but the desire of every believer who wants to be conformed into the image of Christ.