Isaiah 55.10-11
10 “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,
11 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.”
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What makes the bible different than any other book is that God’s Word is actually living and active, and that’s because Jesus is still, today, living and active. He is not a dead philosopher or prophet, but He is the living God! This active and powerful Word contains the truth that sets me free and empowers me (John 8.32), that makes me alive (1 Peter 1.23), and sanctifies me (John 17.17). It is not intended to simply teach me how to fix my life, but it intends to do the very work. There is truly no substitute for the Word of God in my daily life.
The purpose of the Word
is not only to show us
how to transform,
but to actually transform us.
Consider the above verse in Isaiah 55.10-11. God’s Word is like rain that actually causes something to happen. But what does it cause? A few verses later in Isaiah 55.13 it says, “Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress; instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle; and it shall make a name for the Lord, an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.”
Notice this! This special rain isn’t like normal rain, and the bible is not a normal book! Normal rain makes thorn bushes become bigger thorn bushes, but this rain actually changes the thorn bush to first become something new! God’s Word goes into my sinful heart and doesn’t make my sinful heart bigger, it first changes me and transforms me into something totally new, something different, and then also grows that new creation into something that desires to magnify and glorify the Name of the Lord!
When I delight myself in God’s Word and allow it to rain into my heart, that rain will change me and my desires (Psalm 37.4) and make me new, transforming me from one degree of glory to the next (2 Corinthians 3.18).
The Gospel is the very power of God that changes me. When I am watered by the Gospel, transformation, even if slow, will happen within my heart and my mind!
Read Again Out Loud and Make it into a Prayer:
Isaiah 55.10-11
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Personalize and Read or Pray Aloud:
Psalm 119.65–78
65 You have dealt well with your servant,
O Lord, according to your word.
66 Teach me good judgment
and knowledge,
for I believe in your commandments.
67 Before I was afflicted I went astray,
but now I keep your word.
68 You are good and do good;
teach me your statutes.
69 The insolent smear me with lies,
but with my whole heart
I keep your precepts;
70 their heart is unfeeling like fat,
but I delight in your law.|
71 It is good for me that I was afflicted,
that I might learn your statutes.
72 The law of your mouth
is better to me than thousands
of gold and silver pieces.
73 Your hands have made
and fashioned me;
give me understanding
that I may learn your commandments.
74 Those who fear you
shall see me and rejoice,
because I have hoped in your word.
75 I know, O Lord, that your rules
are righteous, and that in faithfulness
you have afflicted me.
76 Let your steadfast love comfort me
according to your promise
to your servant.
77 Let your mercy come to me,
that I may live;
for your law is my delight.
78 Let the insolent be put to shame,
because they have
wronged me with falsehood;
as for me, I will meditate
on your precepts.
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Pray Aloud:
Matthew 6.9–13
9 Pray then like this: “Our Father in heaven,
hallowed be your name.
10 Your kingdom come, your will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
11 Give us this day our daily bread,
12 and forgive us our debts,
as we also have forgiven our debtors.
13 And lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.
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