TEXT:

‘And we will never stop thanking God for this: that when we preached to you, you didn’t think of the words we spoke as being just our own, but you accepted what we said as the very Word of God—which, of course, it was—and it changed your lives when you believed it’ (1 Thessalonians 2:13 TLB)

THOUGHT:

Where is the Bible, God’s Word? For many people it’s on a dusty book shelf. There it stays, unopened and unread. Worse than that, there are probably millions of homes in the UK without a Bible at all!

A lady attended my church in Wadebridge and became a Christian. Living in Padstow, she tried to buy a Bible there but not one shop sold them. That was in the early eighties and since then there has been a steady decline of availability in retail stores.

What we think and do about the Bible, God’s Word, is so important.

• God’s Word Appreciated – ‘Great peace have those who love Your law’ (Psalm 119:165)

I love to read my Bible first thing in the morning whenever possible. Other Christians prefer a different time of the day. I enjoyed reading the New King James Version, others a more modern translation of which there are many to choose from.

It’s not which version you have, but do you read it and meditate on God’s precious promises? Our attitude will determine our appetite! The more we appreciate God’s Word, the more we will devour it, helping to make us healthy and strong spiritually.

 ‘As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word that you may grow’ (I Peter 2:2).

The Children of Israel, assembled at the foot of Mount Sinai, saw God descend with clouds, lightning and loud noises. They heard God speaking from out of the midst of the fire.¹ They were so afraid they told Moses to speak to God on their behalf and they would do what God said. That sounded good, the only problem was they forgot to obey!

God is still speaking to us today from out of the midst of the fire. ‘Is not My Word like a fire?’ (Jeremiah 23:29). Thank God it does not have to scare us but correct, reassure and direct our lives with His peace.²

• God’s Word Hidden – ‘Your Word I have  hidden in my heart, that I may not sin against You’ – (Psalm 119:11)

Moses came down the mountain with two tablets of stone on which God had written the Ten Commandments.³ Try as they did, they could not keep them.

Later God made a promise. ‘I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit within you; I will take the heart of stone out of your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will keep My judgments and do them’ (Ezekiel 36:26-27).

God’s Word would be on the inside, working outwards and influencing every area of our life, just like yeast does to the dough. We read the Bible and in it we see what we can be and what we should be. God’s Word mixed with faith releases a power to overcome sin and live righteously.

‘I have written to you, fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I have written to you, young men, because you are strong, and the word of God abides in you, and you have overcome the wicked one’ (1 John 2:14).

God’s Word has to go in us to change and sustain us. That is why Jesus said, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God’ (Matthew 4:4). Just as bread sustains us naturally, so God’s Word does the same spiritually.

• God’s Word Preached – ‘Those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the Word’ (Acts 8:4)

God’s Word that comes into us, now must come out of us in praise, prayer and preaching.  Jesus said, ‘I have given to them the words which you have given Me and they have received them’ (John 17:8).

Jesus chose twelve apostles and sent them out with this instruction, ‘As you go, preach’ (Matthew 10:7). He sent another seventy out with the same instruction, because the harvest was great and the labourers were few.⁴ His final instruction before ascending up into heaven was, ‘Go into all the world and preach the gospel’ (Mark 16:15). This command includes every Christian because Jesus said, ‘These signs will follow those who believe’ (Mark 16:17).

The hidden word must become the preached word. When the early church was in danger of staying in one place, saying “Come” instead of obeying Jesus’ command to “Go”, God allowed a severe persecution to scatter the church.⁵ What was the outcome? Not the demise of the church as the devil had hoped, but those scattered Christians let everybody know why they were on the run. The gospel message went far and wide and the church grew!⁶

Paul urged Timothy, ‘Preach the Word!’ (2 Timothy 4:2). When told to keep quiet about Jesus, Peter and John reported back to the church and they prayed. A fresh infilling of the Holy Spirit fired them to, ‘Speak the Word of God with boldness’ (Acts 4:11).

When was the last time you spoke to someone about Jesus, who is the Word of God? For me it was just a few days ago, after playing golf. Over a cup of coffee I was asked about the relief aid for Rwanda. In response to their question I was able to weave in the gospel and give them one of my books.

Anywhere, anytime, anyone! If you are willing to speak, God will arrange for someone you will be able to speak to. Your words cannot bring hope or change to someone in desperate need, but God’s Word can! So preach the Word!

Endnotes:

¹ – Exodus 20:18-20

² – Colossians 3:15

³ – Exodus 24:12

⁴ – Luke 10:1-2

⁵ – Acts 8:1

⁶ – Acts 9:31