“The Word of our God stands forever.” Isaiah 40:8 NIV
“God’s Word works in everyday life, and it will work in yours now and forever.”
My thoughts today are about “a word that works.”
It is strange how people can have something so incredible and valuable yet treat it as common. Often something that is so readily available and familiar can become ordinary and taken for granted. Without intending to do so or even realizing that you are, you may fail to properly value people and things that are irreplaceable: family and friends, opportunities, good health, abilities, time, money, and “just good things.”
As I have seen our grandkids growing up and becoming busy with their own lives, I wish I had the privilege of more occasions to be with them, and made more time for that to be. As I get older and hopefully a bit wiser, I try to remind myself to prize the people even more greatly who are so dear to my life, to more highly appreciate the blessings I am given, and to enjoy more fully the things that I am privileged to do.
I think my thoughts today relate also to how a person might handle – or mishandle – the Bible. Make no mistake; the Bible is God’s Word! It is much more than a collection of wisdom or enduring prose; the Bible is God’s Word! Some have ignored and discounted it, while others made great sacrifices to provide it. People have tried to destroy and discredit it, while others have given their lives to defend and preserve it. There is a reason why they would do so. “Jesus answered, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.’” Luke 4:4 NKJV. God’s Word is absolutely essential to the quality of your life.
The Bible contains wisdom for all situations – health and hope for the struggling, trustworthy principles for success and satisfaction, a path to life in its fullness, the truest revelation of God, and eternal salvation for the soul. “For you have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring Word of God . . the Word of the Lord will live forever.” 1 Peter 1:25 NIV/NCV. See Luke 21:33 NIV.
Let me suggest a few questions that you must ultimately answer, “Does God’s Word live in your heart? Does it guide your choices and conduct? Does it set your values?” Love and prize your Bible; take time each day for its truth, and be always able to say, “I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You, O God.” Psalm 119:11 NIV. To truly live, you must live according to truth.
The Apostle Paul commended the Christ-followers at Thessaloniki for their love and faithfulness to God’s Word, “When you received the Word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the Word of God, which is at work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:14 NIV. God’s Word works in everyday life, and it will work in yours.
My prayer for you today is: make a daily commitment to know and obey God’s Word.