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| Vol. 15 No. 2 February 2013 | Page 4 |
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| Vol. 15 No. 2 February 2013 | Page 4 |
Mark N. Posey
God has promised to use His Word in the lives of those who hear it. Incredible things will happen when we use God’s Word, the Bible, in soul-winning, discipleship and spiritual growth. Thus, the Word of God is like…
The Bible is like seed (Luke 8:11; 1 Peter 1:23). A wise old professor of Biology stood in front of his class of eager students. The professor held a little brown seed in his hand. Quietly he spoke to his class. “I know the exact composition of this seed; it is made up of nitrogen, hydrogen, oxygen and carbon. I know the exact proportions, and I can make a seed that will look exactly like it. However, if I plant my seed, it will come to nothing; its elements will simply be absorbed into the soil. However, if I plant this seed, the one that God made, it will become a plant, because it contains something that mine doesn’t – life!"
The Bible is a hammer (Jeremiah 23:29). God’s Word, like a hammer, breaks in pieces stubborn rocks of resistance. These rocks could be mental lusts, sinful habits and different kinds of weaknesses. We apply God’s Word to get delivered from such things in our lives.
The Bible is like a fire (Jeremiah 23:29). God’s Word, like fire, illuminates, comforts, penetrates, purifies and even destroys. The hammer is symbolic of our hard hearts being broken into small parts so the fire can melt the wickedness away and give us a purification that only God can provide.
The Bible is like a sword (Hebrews 4:12; Ephesians 6:17). God’s Word can reach into the innermost recesses of one’s being! No heart is too tough, and no soul is too dark. God’s Word is living (4:12a), powerful (12:4b), penetrating (4:12c) and discerning (4:12d). It can pierce and change us!
The Bible is like food & drink (Matthew 4:4; John 4:10; Psalm 19:10). Honey is sweet and pleasant to eat, but God’s Word is sweeter still. Living water: In ancient times, they called spring water living water because it seemed “alive” as it bubbled up from the ground. At first glance, it might seem that Jesus tells this woman about a nearby active spring, but Jesus made a play on words with the phrase “living water,” because He means the spiritual water that quenches our spiritual thirst and gives life. God’s words must be more precious than food.
The Bible is like a mirror (James 1:23). Mirrors show needed change and help us to see ourselves clearly. A person looks in the mirror to do something, not just to admire the image. Even so, a Christian looks into God’s Word to do something about it, not just to store up facts that he will not use.
The Bible is like a light (Psalm 119:105). The Bible is clear and comprehensive to any open-minded person that will read it. The Psalmist felt that as he walked the road of life, the Word of God made his steps clear. He would not know where to step without the guidance of God’s Word. The blessing of those “who were once enlightened” have experienced the light of God shining upon them. This ancient Greek word (“enlightened”) has the same meaning as the English word. It identifies those that possess true knowledge and understanding of the Gospel (Hebrews 6:4).
In conclusion, the rain and snow eventually return to heaven, but not before accomplishing their purpose on earth. Even so, God’s Word, sent down from heaven, does not return to Him void. Instead, it always fulfills His purpose on earth. “So shall My word be that goes forth from My mouth; It shall not return to Me void, But it shall accomplish what I please, And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it” (Isaiah 55:11 NKJV).
David A. Sargent
An American preacher told of being on a mission trip to the island of Tobago where, in a worship service, a woman requested the song, “Count Your Blessings.” She did so by raising a hand without fingers and speaking from a face with neither nose nor ears. She was a member of the leper colony where the service was being held (Rowell 206). Erma Bombeck once wrote in the October 1992 edition of Redbook: “An estimated 1.5 million people are living today after bouts with breast cancer. Every time I forget to feel grateful to be among them, I hear the voice of an eight-year-old named Christina, who had cancer of the nervous system. When asked what she wanted for her birthday, she thought long and hard and finally said, ‘I don’t know. I have two sticker books and a Cabbage Patch doll. I have everything!’ The kid is right.”
Have you counted your blessings recently? Are you thankful? In the United States, we have an annual holiday – Thanksgiving. Yet, thanksgiving should be something we do every day.
The Amplified Bible [more nearly a commentary than a Bible translation, Editor] gives this reading of 1 Thessalonians 5:18. “Thank [God] in everything [no matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks], for this is the will of God for you [who are] in Christ Jesus [the Revealer and Mediator of that will].” Did you catch that? “No matter what the circumstances may be, be thankful and give thanks.” It can be difficult to follow this instruction, especially if our circumstances are challenging.
However, if a woman with no fingers can sing “Count Your Blessings,” can’t we find the blessings in our own lives? If a little girl suffering with cancer can find joy in two sticker books and a doll, can’t we rejoice in the blessings that we have? “In Christ Jesus” there are countless reasons to be thankful, even in the midst of the most difficult of circumstances.
The most difficult and deadly “circumstance” is to be lost because of our sins (Matthew 7:13-14; Romans 6:23). God, though, loves us so much that He gave His Son Jesus to die on the cross for our sins (John 3:16; 1 Peter 2:24). Those who accept His offer of salvation through trusting obedience are placed “in Christ” where all spiritual blessings are enjoyed (Ephesians 1:3) – blessings like the forgiveness of sins, the hope of eternal life, peace that surpasses understanding and being a part of God’s family.
One accepts God’s offer of salvation and is placed “in Christ” when he places his faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turns from his sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confesses Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10) and is baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38; Galatians 3:27). No matter how difficult your current circumstances may be, you can have every reason to be thankful if you accept God’s offer of salvation and life on His terms. Won’t you?
Works Cited
Bombeck, Erma. Redbook October 1992.
Rowell, Edward K., ed. “Fresh Illustrations for Preaching & Teaching.” Leadership Journal, 206, as quoted by David Anguish.