The Power of God's Word

by Jeff Jue

Globe As a child I had a large globe of the world, the size of a big beach ball!  It not only showed all the continents and countries, but it even had ridges to show the elevation of the highest mountain ranges. I loved spinning it around to see the different places, and I wondered what life was like in other parts of the world. I remember when I first found the country of Israel in the Middle East. I was surprised to see how small it was compared to other countries – a little sliver of land that could easily be missed when turning a globe. Yet, it is from this little country that God’s Word was given and went out to call people all over the world into the family of God!

Isaiah 55:10-11 reads:

For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return  there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

The spread of God’s Word and the growth of the global church is a stunning example of what God says about His Word in Isaiah. Indeed, it has not returned empty, but it is succeeding in establishing and building His church on every continent and in every nation. Beginning with just twelve disciples, there are now over 2.5 billion people in the world that consider themselves Christians!

God’s Word is not just accomplishing great things on a grand global scale, but His Word is also accomplishing His desire for each of us personally.  God speaks to us through His Word by His Spirit and there is a great purpose for which He sends it to our minds and hearts.  What is that purpose?  First and foremost, His Word goes out to tell us the way of salvation and the promise of new life in Jesus Christ. This is His redemptive plan that all of Scripture points to: God sent his Son to become a man, to live a sinless life, to die a sacrificial death to forgive us our sins, and to be raised from the dead in victory so that we may also be raised to be with Him in His time. God’s Word is the good news of His love proclaimed for everyone to come to know Him and walk with Him through life into eternity.

For us believers, His Word is sent to give us His assurance that He is with us as we live each day in this broken world. God’s Word is powerful to comfort us and encourage us. When we hear the psalmist cry out to God -- our hearts cry out too, and we are assured that the Lord hears us and He gives us His peace.   Also, there is power in His Word to convict us and challenge us in the life-long process of growing in our faith and becoming more like Him.  No matter what we are going through -- no matter what trials we are facing -- God’s Word gives us hope; hope in His promises deepen our trust and love for Him. Remember, God’s Word is at work in each of us and it will not return empty. It will accomplish His good purposes in us and – by His grace -- be lived out through us.  Trust in this promise of the power of God’s Word available to us today and every day!

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