NO EMPTY WORDS

 

OCTOBER 23, 2023

 

 2 Timothy 3:15-17 

. . .you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

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.

 

Our Devotions this week will focus on the key teachings and encouragement that come to us out the historical period know as the Reformation.  I should tell you that a question prompted my preparing this series of devotionals. The question was REFORMATION? Why should I care? Why should we care? My prayer is that by weeks end we will be able to answer these questions and be able to acknowledge why this act of remembering is a worthwhile exercise.

 

Today I want us to reflect on the value and importance of God’s Word, the Bible. The teaching that came out of the period of the Reformation was captured in this phrase “By Scripture Alone.” (Latin: Sola Scriptura) I was recalling the other day about the praise that was being heaped on Martin Luther, a key leader during this period, for his work and the outcome of that work which resulted in a significant change in the life of the Church and indeed, Christian History. Luther’s response to the praise really struck me. Luther said, “I did nothing. The WORD did it!” In other words, in Luther’s view any achievement toward renewal and change in Church practice and life was the result of people’s response to God’s word.

I wonder, if there is perhaps a lesson in that for us in the Contemporary Church. Could it be that what ought to drive our vision and mission and programs, and yes even our structure is what develops from the study of God’s Word. I wonder what it might look like to “Let the word do it.” Could it be that we would “do Church” differently? How might Worship be shaped? Would the ministry, and things we do be more driven toward community? Might the Church be more in tune with advocating for Justice in our society for all people?  I wonder what it might look like to “Let the Word do it?”

Luther in another place said that “The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me.”  Have you experienced that in your life? That “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.” Do you know what Paul was saying to Timothy when he said “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, 17so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work"? Is that what it means to “Let the word do it?” Is that what Luther was getting at when he talked about the activity and energy of the words of the Bible, that ran after him, that laid hold of him? You see, God’s word is “alive and active” it does grab hold us, and by the Holy Spirit’s work pursues us. God, speaking through Isaiah said that:

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,
11 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.

So, let's study God's word, let’s surrender to it, let’s do what it asks of us, let’s live according to its promises, let us By Scripture Alone Let the Word do it!!

I pray that we all experience God’s Word in this way, I know this, that we will all be better for it, as will the world around us.