READ: LUKE
1:26-38
If there is
anyone who knows the importance of words, it is God. In Scriptures, He has
given us guidelines on how to speak. Whenever He speaks, He not only has a
purpose but also expectations. God has expectations on how you should respond
to His words. What are these expectations? “Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and
superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which
is able to save your souls.” (James 1:21). From this Scripture, God
expects you to receive His word. God’s word can either be received or rejected.
There are many ways of receiving God’s word. You can receive it grudgingly,
cheerlessly and with complaints. This happens when the issue at stake touches
your heart, or contradicts your fleshly desires. Any word of God received this
way, will be difficult to practice. Hence it may not yield the desired result. On
the other hand, you can receive God’s word joyfully, whether it is painful or
not (Acts 2:41). Doing so generates compliance, which produces good yield.
Besides this, God expects you to believe His word. If you believe God’s word, you will most likely receive it. The word of God is also called the word of faith (Romans 10:8) and must be received with faith to produce results (Hebrews 4:2). If you do not believe God’s word, you make Him a liar, and He will remain limited in such a circumstance. Also, the word of God must be acted upon. Joshua 1:8 says you can act on God’s word by confessing and preaching it regularly, meditating on it day and night, and by observing and obeying it. According to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, how you act on the word is a function of how you received it. If you heard the word grudgingly, you will also comply grudgingly and God will reward you grudgingly.
God expects you to wait on His word, and stand on it until it comes to pass (1 Timothy 1:18). And when God fulfils His word in your life, the world will know that He is not only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but also your God. You can submit to God’s word. This will cause you to yield to His sovereign will and like Mary let Him have His way (Luke 1:38). The word of God is a two-edged sword. If you respond positively to it, it will make you. But if you respond negatively, it will break you. How do you respond to God’s word?
Besides this, God expects you to believe His word. If you believe God’s word, you will most likely receive it. The word of God is also called the word of faith (Romans 10:8) and must be received with faith to produce results (Hebrews 4:2). If you do not believe God’s word, you make Him a liar, and He will remain limited in such a circumstance. Also, the word of God must be acted upon. Joshua 1:8 says you can act on God’s word by confessing and preaching it regularly, meditating on it day and night, and by observing and obeying it. According to 2 Corinthians 9:6-7, how you act on the word is a function of how you received it. If you heard the word grudgingly, you will also comply grudgingly and God will reward you grudgingly.
God expects you to wait on His word, and stand on it until it comes to pass (1 Timothy 1:18). And when God fulfils His word in your life, the world will know that He is not only the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob but also your God. You can submit to God’s word. This will cause you to yield to His sovereign will and like Mary let Him have His way (Luke 1:38). The word of God is a two-edged sword. If you respond positively to it, it will make you. But if you respond negatively, it will break you. How do you respond to God’s word?
MEMORIZE:
JAMES 1:21 –Wherefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness,
and receive with meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls.
