Discovering a New Passion for the Word of God
It was two years ago this week that my best friend of 6 years and I broke up. I know 6 years isn't a long time, but when you've committed yourself to knowing and caring for a person those 6 years a breakup can be devastating. I won't go into details because it is not important. Just know that I was in a broken place and that is precisely where God needed me. He used this app on my phone to speak to me and give me hope and a reason to keep going. I read devotions on this app every night when I went to bed and in the morning. I had 3 or 4 of them going at a time. I needed to know how to deal with all of the hurt.
I did so many of these devotionals that I soon found them not to be deep enough. They only scratched the surface of who God is and what He wants us to know about Him. The app has a full searchable Bible so I decided to begin reading. The problem is, on your phone reading tiny words can put you to sleep and cause eye strain. I decided to try listening, like a book on tape. Every night I would turn on the app and start the reading of God's word. To my surprise I did not fall asleep. I laid and listened for 1, 2 and 3 hours at a time. The stories of the old testament that I grew up hearing in Sunday school became more real than I could have imagined. The more times I listened to each one, the different parts of the story came out and I learned something new each time. They stopped being stories. They became life.
The Gospels were brand new and I got more of a sense of who Jesus really is and what His life was here on earth. This is when I began to Imagine Jesus when I would pray. The more I listened the closer Jesus was to me. Imagining Jesus became an every day thing. There are those who say that reading is the only way, but my reading comprehension is not great. I have a tendency for squirrel moments. I've always had this issue when I read. For some really strange reason when I listen I stay focused.
Last night while listening to the book of Ezekiel God spoke to me. It wasn't really related to what was being read. I got this question in my head, "Do you love me?" I realized that I was always telling my dog that I love him. He is a dog and while he is a really great dog, he doesn't ever tell me that he loves me. I'm not even sure he is capable though there is a bond we have that some might call love. It was at that moment that I discovered how much I love the word of God. Remember John 1 "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God." for those of us who know what this means, my answer was YES! I do love you Lord.
The word of God is Jesus. John begins his gospel with this fact. The Bible is also the word of God. The Bible is Jesus. Every part of it points to Him, from creation to Revelation. The Word of God is not only a handbook on how to live a pleasing Godly life, more importantly it is God's plan from beginning to end so that we can know HIM and not fear the chaos of this world. God and Jesus are one with the Holy Spirit the 3 in one God. He is the ONLY true God and in Him we have our being. I just got chills again. I love God. The amazing Word of God is life to us when we drown ourselves in it. I just got this picture of being immersed in Jesus. I can't even explain it. He is the living water. If we jump in and let that water fill us there is nothing that is impossible. Wow!
Imagine Jesus speaking words of truth, love, peace, joy, kindness, happiness, every amazing wonderful gift of God being showered down on us like rain cleansing us, renewing us, filling us and giving us exactly what we need for every single situation. There is NOTHING His word cannot accomplish. It will not return to Him void!
Are you having a wow moment? I sure am. No wonder the Psalmist said in Psalm 119:103 "How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!" In fact this whole chapter is about the word of God. It is the longest Psalm and the longest book in the Bible. From Bible Gateway, "This psalm is an acrostic poem, the stanzas of which begin with successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet; moreover, the verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet." What a tribute to the Word of God Jesus. Did the Psalmist know that the Word was to become flesh and live among us?
I have read the Bible for many years. I have attended church and there have been many times where the pastor's message brought me to tears because I knew God prepared that message just for me. The fact of the matter is God's Word Jesus is for ALL of us. He is relevant because He bridges the gap between us and the God of the Universe. There is so much more to learn, to understand and to be amazed by. But this one thing I know, I can answer God's question without hesitation, YES! I do love you Lord.
Hebrews 4:12 "For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."
Isaiah 55:10-12
"As the rain and the snow
come down from heaven,
and do not return to it
without watering the earth
and making it bud and flourish,
so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater,
So is my word that goes out from my mouth:
It will not return to me empty,
but will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
You will go out in joy
and be led forth in peace;
the mountains and hills
will burst into song before you,
and all the trees of the field
will clap their hands."
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