The Word Of God

Reading: 2 Samuel 24; 1 Chronicles 21; Psalm 30; 1 Thessalonians 2 Therefore, we never stop thanking God that when you received his message from us, you didn’t think of our words as mere human ideas. You accepted what we said as the very word of God—which, of course, it is. And this word continues to work in you who believe. (1 Thessalonians 2:13 NLT) Paul and Silas had been beaten, imprisoned, then run out of Philippi. When they arrived in Thessalonica, their backs still scabbed and sore from the beating, they began boldly preaching their message of New Life in Christ. A large number of people, both Jews and Greeks, believed their message, and before long, jealous Jewish leaders ran them out of town. In spite of the difficult circumstances surrounding Paul’s introduction of the Good News to the people of Thessalonica, open-hearted people heard Paul’s preaching of the Good News of Jesus Christ and they accepted it as the Word of God. This caused faith to be activated – a work of God’s Holy Spirit – and the Good News Paul preached became to the Thessalonians the Word of God. God’s Word went to work immediately transforming their lives, changing their values, and admitting them as citizens into the Kingdom of God. When I believe the message that comes from God, whether through my daily reading and journaling, or through the words of a friend, or some other way – however the message comes to my mind and heart – when I believe it and receive it as God’s Word to me, it goes to work immediately, creating faith inside me. The Holy Spirit activates faith within me that I can think and act upon, based on my response to the Word of God I have received. That faith has the active power to change me, to change circumstances, and to make me able to receive the promises and provision of God. Friends, let’s believe, receive, and act on the Word(s) of God to us! Prayer:

Father, Thank you for the living, active, transforming power of your Spirit-Activated Word. I pray for myself and all those who read these words, that we will be open-minded, open-hearted believers of, and responders to, your Word. Speak your Living Word to us through our Bibles, our eyes, our ears, our interaction with the world around us, and through the encounters and experiences of each day. Grant us understanding minds, believing hearts, and responsive wills to think, speak, and act in the Faith that comes by your Word. Amen.