July 20 -- "The Wonder-Working Word"

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 34 

"The Wonder-Working Word"

There is something very powerful about hearing the words of God! In this passage, we witness young King Josiah's profound moment of spiritual reckoning. He goes up to the house of the Lord, gathers the people around him, and reads aloud the rediscovered Book of the Covenant. A powerful national revival was the result of his actions! What a great instance of the wonder-working power of God’s Word.

A pastor I know was invited to speak at a conference of Christian leaders. He was known for his powerful ministry of teaching the Bible. He was scheduled to be the last speaker of the day-long conference and was told he would have about 45-50 minutes to share his message. Unfortunately, as the day wore on, each preceding speaker took a little longer than their allotted time, so by the time it got to my friend’s turn to speak, he only had about 10 minutes to speak to the people. The conference leader leaned over to him and said, “You should dispense with the reading of the Bible and get directly into your message.” When this pastor reached the podium, he announced to the people, “I only have 10 minutes, so I will  dispense with my message and will get directly into reading the Word of God!”

This pastor, like Josiah, understood that there is profound power in the very words of the Bible. Hearing God's word has the power to accomplish various transformative purposes in our lives:

·       Transformation and Renewal: Romans 12:2 emphasizes the renewing of the mind through the Word of God.

·       Faith and Salvation: Romans 10:17 teaches that faith comes through hearing the Word of God.

·       Guidance and Wisdom: Psalm 119:105 declares that the Word of God serves as a guiding force, providing wisdom and direction in navigating life's journey.

·       Conviction and Correction: Hebrews 4:12 highlights the sharpness of God's Word and its power to convict and correct, exposing the true condition of the heart.

·       Spiritual Growth: 1 Peter 2:2 underscores that regular intake of God's word contributes to spiritual growth and maturity.

·       Comfort and Encouragement: Romans 15:4 highlights the comforting and encouraging nature of Scripture.

There is something mysteriously powerful about the Bible. I encourage you to turn to each of the passages referenced above and read them for yourself. Turn to His word, believe what it says, and watch God transform your life through its mysterious, wonder-working power.