God’s Word does not need our Defense but our Proclamation
“For,
(1 Peter 1: 24-25 NASB)
“ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS,
AND ALL ITS GLORY IS LIKE
THE FLOWER OF GRASS.
THE GRASS WITHERS,
AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF.
BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD
ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.”
Oftentimes, we pray, and then we pray again, lifting the same request. We allow the question to plant inside our being:
- “God, if You are listening, if you are seeing, please answer my prayer.”
- “God, if You . . .”
Do we ask the question because we wonder:
- “if God is really God” OR
- “if God is really present with us” OR
- “if we are just so tired, totally fatigued, with lifting the same prayer request”?
Truly, we are flesh and blood, such weak vessels that wither and fall apart when our lives, our heart concerns, or our situations are not immediately rectified. We like when life moves like ‘clockwork,’ when really, our lives really do—GOD’S TIMETABLE!
This past week, I had the opportunity to share the plan of salvation with someone, and as far as I know, this person had never encountered the words written in red found within the third chapter of John—the words of Jesus—the Word of God!
Now, I do not care to be transparent here. I wanted God to speak so powerfully to this person’s heart that it would be impossible to resist God’s call to salvation.
For all I know, God did!
It is easy to write that preceding statement because we know that God’s Word does not return void when the Word of God is shared & proclaimed.
This past week, I also had the opportunity to study what God had to say through the writings found within the book of Jeremiah. In the Old Testament, the prophet Jeremiah was used by Almighty God to proclaim the judgment of the people of Judah. Even though the narrative reveals how the people did not listen to the prophecy, to God’s judgment, and even though they were taken into captivity by the invading Babylonians, still we see God at work in their lives & it’s easy to see how God moves. In fact—
- God never does not move!
- God is always at work, always!
That was TRUTH for the people living during the days of Jeremiah!
&
That is still TRUTH for the people living today—for you & for me!
“For this is what the LORD says, ‘When seventy years have been completed for Babylon, I will visit you and fulfill My good word to you, to bring you back to this place. (verse 10)
(Jeremiah 29: 10-14 NASB)
For I know the plans that I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ’plans for prosperity and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. (verse 11)
Then you will call upon Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. (verse 12)
And you will seek Me and find Me when you search for Me with all your heart. (verse 13)
I will let Myself be found by you,’ declares the LORD, (the first part of verse 14)
‘and I will restore your fortunes and gather you from all the nations and all the places where I have driven you,’ declares the LORD, ‘and I will bring you back to the place from where I sent you into exile.’ ”
Normally, whenever we read Jeremiah 29, we seem to get planted on verse 11, and that’s okay because verse 11 has much HOPE to offer.
Yet, today, when reading this chapter, and when recalling my conversation with the other about the salvation of God, it was the ‘words’ of God found within the Word of God in the first part of verse 14 that totally captured my heart.
‘I will let Myself be found by you,’ declares the LORD,’ (the first part of verse 14)
God’s Word does not need our Defense but our Proclamation!
- When has God’s Word ever died?
- When has God’s Word remained ineffective?
- When has God’s Word not changed peoples’ lives?
- When was the last time we proclaimed God’s Word to another?
- When was the last time we proclaimed God’s Word over a situation?
- When was the last time we proclaimed God’s Word over ourselves?
- When was the last time we proclaimed God’s Word as we prayed?
- When was the last time we proclaimed God’s Word?
Under God’s authority, the apostle Peter wrote words of TRUTH we need today—
“BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD
(1 Peter 1: 25 NASB)
ENDURES FOREVER.”
And this is the word which was preached to you.”
- May we stop trying to Defend the Word of God,
&
- May we PROCLAIM God’s Holy Word to those who need it most—
Every Single Person!
- Those Who Need to Meet Jesus!
- Those Who Have Been Praying over a Situation!
- Those Who Have Plaguing Health Concerns!
- Those Who Are Alive & Breathing!