“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high;”
Hebrews 1:3
The awesome power of God’s word simply cannot be overestimated. “By the word of the LORD were the heavens made,” wrote the psalmist, “and all the host of them by the breath of his mouth” (Psalm 33:6). Not only was this vast and mysterious world created by God’s word (2 Peter 2:5), today’s text reminds us that God is holding the world in existence, moment by moment, by the same word. God’s inscripturated special revelation is no less powerful. The Holy Bible reveals life changing truth about God, about the world, and about ourselves. The word is like water casting our reflections back at us, truthfully revealing our flaws, imperfections, and the filth of personal sin. Like water, however, the word is also a cleansing agent. When applied to our hearts, the word accomplishes a great and mysterious purifying work. The Bible explains that our new holy and redeemed lives with Jesus began with new birth, which was accomplished through the mysterious ministry of the word. Peter explains that we were “born again, not of corruptible seed, but of incorruptible, by the word of God, which liveth and abideth for ever” (1 Peter 1:23). Christ “loved the church, and gave himself for it;” wrote Paul, “That he might sanctify and cleanse it with the washing of water by the word, That he might present it to himself a glorious church, not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing; but that it should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians 5:25-27). Even after we have experienced new birth, we are still in need of the word’s daily cleansing ministry as we navigate through this life. “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way?” asked the psalmist rhetorically, “by taking heed thereto according to thy word” (Psalm 119:9). The psalmist understood the incomparably great importance of the word to a productive, God-honoring life. “Thy word have I hid in mine heart,” he wrote, “that I might not sin against thee” (Psalm 119:11). Sin may work to keep us from the word, but God’s precious and powerful word keeps us from sin. Let us approach the Bible with humble, believing hearts and renewed enthusiasm today. May that precious word not only encourage, instruct, and strengthen us, but may it also continue to transform us into the image of the Savior whose testimony is the very spirit of prophecy (Revelation 19:10). May this be so, for God’s own glory and for the good of us His redeemed.
God bless and keep you today dear saints,
Pastor John
English