What God’s Word Is Supposed to Do

God’s Word was never meant to leave us empty.

It was never meant to be something we have to do…something that’s on our “to do” list, right along with laundry and soccer practice.

Look at Isaiah 55:10-11, a couple of verses that talk about the Word of God:

“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” (Isaiah 55:10-11).

God’s Word isn’t meant to leave us empty. It’s meant to leave us full.

Let’s break this text down  to see exactly how God’s Word is meant to refresh us.

1. It nourishes.

Just as the rain and snow water the earth and prepare the ground for growth, God’s Word nourishes our souls and prepares us for growth in Christ.

2. It produces a crop.

As I studied this text, I kept coming back to Jesus’ parable of the sower in Matthew 13:

“A farmer went out to sow his seed. As he was scattering the seed, some fell along the path, and the birds came and ate it up.  Some fell on rocky places, where it did not have much soil. It sprang up quickly, because the soil was shallow. But when the sun came up, the plants were scorched, and they withered because they had no root. Other seed fell among thorns, which grew up and choked the plants. Still other seed fell on good soil, where it produced a crop—a hundred,sixty or thirty times what was sown.” (Matthew 13:3-8).

Jesus explained the parable like this. There are 4 types of people:

• People on the path-These people hear the Word, but the devil takes it away from them.
• People on the rock-These people hear the Word but have no root; they fall away when tested.
• People among thorns-These people hear the Word, but it is choked away by worries and pleasures.
• People on good soil-These people hear the Word, retain it, and produce a crop.

So the question is…what type of people are we?

When we hear the Word of God, how do we respond? Do we forget about it as soon as we put our Bibles away?

Or…do you retain it, persevere through hard times, and produce a crop?

This is what the Word of God is designed to do in our lives.

3. It’s sent from above.

A third aspect of the Word is that it is sent from above. As rain falls from the skies, so the Word was sent to us from Heaven.

It’s so easy living where I live to neglect my study in the Word. I have at least 10 Bibles in my home, not to mention commentaries and concordances. This surplus, instead of leading me to study the Bible more, has at times (to my shame) led me to neglect it. It has become almost commonplace. (Ugh, please tell me someone can relate to that admission.)

God’s Word should never become commonplace to us. It is the living Word of God, sent directly from the Father.

If we let it, it can do amazing things in our lives. The key, though, is that we have to let it.

How has the Word of God nourished you in the past?

Tweetables:

“God’s Word was never meant to leave us empty.” –Click to tweet this.

“If we let it, God’s Word can do amazing things in our lives. The key, though, is that we have to let it.” –Click to tweet this.