God's Word is like . . .
Posted by James MacDonald on December 28, 2007 09:28 AM | Comments (13)People often ask me if I have a life verse.
If I do, it is Jeremiah 15:16, "Your words were found and I ate them, and your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart." It's kind of my testimony. I was going nowhere in a hurry and I found this book God wrote and began to feast on it like a soldier devouring his last meal. When the Word of God is absent from my life my heart is hungry. When I feast on the Bread of Life, my heart overflows with joy.
I love the vivid pictures with which the Bible describes itself, adding such insight into how God uses it in our lives.
FIRE
Therefore, thus says the LORD, the God of Hosts, 'Because you have spoken this word, behold, I am making my words in your mouth fire and this people wood, and it will consume them,'" (Jeremiah 5:14).
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I experience the reality of that Scripture on a weekly basis. I have the privilege of standing before thousands of people with God's Word in my mouth and seeing the incredible impact that it makes. I see the truth penetrate their hearts, grip their minds, move their emotions, and, best of all, engage their wills toward transformation. God's Word is like fire; it consumes people's hearts.
SWORD
"For the word of God is living and active, sharper than and double edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart." Hebrews 4:12
Not a knife or dagger, but God's Word is a sword, the weapon of hand-to-hand combat. The sword of God's Word cuts to the heart of the matter. Ephesians 6:17 says, "And take . . . the sword of the spirit, which is the Word of God." When Satan is trying to tempt us or discourage us, it's the Word of God we use to defeat him. Amazingly, Jesus Christ Himself used the Word of God as a sword to deflect the temptations of the enemy (Matthew 4:1-11). Can we afford to do less?
HAMMER
"Is not my word like. . . a hammer that breaks the rock in pieces?" Jeremiah 23:29
If God can't get to you with the fire or the sword, guess what? The hammer's going to fall. Many of those whose lives have been changed by the Word of God reference a time when their hearts were very hard and God had to break them. And it was painful. Nobody wants to meet the hammer of conviction and change. That is why the Scripture exhorts us, "Today, if you would hear His voice, do not harden your hearts" (Psalm 95:7-8).
SEED
"Having been born again, not of corruptible seed but incorruptible, through the word of God which lives and abides forever" (1 Peter 1:23 NKJV). In one of His parables Jesus said, "The seed is the word of God" (Luke 8:11 NKJV).
A seed starts so small and takes time to grow. Similarly the Word of God starts to work in our hearts, but it takes time. Sometimes we have to hear the same thing several times before it really starts to connect. In the same way, God's Word planted in the human heart will bear much fruit over time, but it requires a willingness to plant the seed by faith and wait.
MILK
"Like newborn babies, long for the pure milk of the word, so that by it you may grow." 1 Peter 2:2. 
We were born with our mouths open. What mother's milk is to little babies, so the Word of God is in the life of a sincere person of faith. I don't see adults crying because they haven't been physically fed, but how many are filled by anxiety, fear, and discouragement because they have neglected God's only provision for their spiritual nourishment?
MEAT
"For though by this time you ought to be teachers, you have need again for someone to teach you the elementary principles of the oracles of God, and you have come to need milk and not solid food. For everyone who partakes only of milk is not accustomed to the word or righteousness." Hebrews 5:12-14.
If you've known Christ for any amount of time at all, you find yourself saying, "Isn't there more?" The answer is yes! There is more--the meat of God's Word. Milk is like the elementary or basic things of the Bible. "But solid food is for the mature, who because of practice, have their senses trained to discern good and evil" (v. 15).
LIGHT
"Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Psalm 119:105
Here's the great thing about light. If you're walking around in the dark, you will stumble over stuff and hurt yourself. The Word of God works in our lives so that we don't walk down dark alleys anymore. We don't make dumb mistakes. If you know what it is to be perplexed about an important decision hanging over your head, then you understand the value of having God's Word light your path.
MIRROR
"For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror, for once he has looked at himself and gone away, he has immediately forgotten what kind of person he was. But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty, and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effective doer, this man will be blessed in what he does." James 1:23-25
God's Word shows us ourselves! It confronts us with truth and convicts us about our true need. If I have a blob of mustard on my face and, after looking in the mirror, forget to rub it off, how silly would that make me? So the real power then is not in the words exclusively but in my doing what the Word of God says.
I can personally testify to the power of God's Word when I've invited it to drill down into my heart, driving indifference and complacency from my soul. Long before I proclaim God's Word in our church service, I sit alone in my study with His Word and invite God to change me, to hammer the reality of what God is saying into my soul. I ask Him to fill my heart with faith as I focus on His words and to accomplish His purpose in me as Isaiah 55:10 promises.
God is faithful to His Word and we who place ourselves in the flow of that unceasing work are the continual benefactors.
Comments
Posted by: Ellen Bell | December 31, 2007 05:24 PM
Bravo! Those who say that we can't know what the Bible teaches because we don't read it in the original languages, don't understand the cultural context, etc. have made it clear that they, indeed do not know the Bible--especially what the Bible says about itself. It is the repository of the very words of life from our Father who wants us to know and understand what He has caused to be written. Where else can we go to learn of God and His plan for man? God's Word stands though men may fall.
Posted by: Ellen Bell | December 31, 2007 05:41 PM
Here's another one, Pastor James---water! Ephesians 5:26, speaking of Christ and His Church, says, "...that He might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word..."
Posted by: Jenny Williams | January 1, 2008 12:24 PM
Thank you so much for your ministry! You have no idea how God has used the word to change me directly through your obedience. Also, I went to take my daughter to get her pictures made and they told us to bring a keepsake. I took her bible and during the pic she put it in her mouth. the photographer tried to get her to take it out and I said NO!! Jer 15:16 says your words were found and I ate them. Then I got a chance to talk to her about the Lord. It was so sweet.
Posted by: Denise Wampler | January 1, 2008 01:19 PM
There is so much I wish to talk w/ u about! To keep it very simple- I am thankful to the LORD beyond words that God Almighty keeps u faithful to Him & for boldly, unapologetically proclaiming His Word no matter what.
Happy new year, Pastor James.
U & ur family r prayed for.
Posted by: myron | January 4, 2008 01:22 PM
I am so wowed by the fact that GOD uses HIS WORD to sanctify us "John 17:17". Only by the work of the WORD "John 1:1" can we ever hope to approach GOD and have fellowship with HIM. Thank you pastor James for helping to grow my LOVE for the LORD. May JESUS bless you. Please pray for me.
Posted by: dawne | January 6, 2008 06:45 PM
Liked the word pictures. I've been a Christian for about 20 years,now in my forties, most of that time I've spent under the hammer, ouch! God has brought me to a place now where I'm feasting on His word and loving every minute,when daily life throws me curves I know in whom i have beleiveth, that he is able. I got out under the hammer when woed by God to follow Him wholeheartedly, uncomprimisingly.What a difference! God is growing me up, and my foolish years help me to caution others.
Posted by: Matt Philleo | January 8, 2008 11:46 AM
Man, God is doing something new this year to excite people for the passion of His Word. I just got a newsletter today from Mark Cahill (a die-hard witness for Christ) on dropping the "L" of out the world, so all you have left is "the Word," followed by several verses on the power/ authority of scripture, and how important it is for us to digest it daily. THEN, I listen to your brodcast shortly after, and more of the same. I love how the Holy Spirit works! As I was listening, I got fired up!
Posted by: David Riffel | January 8, 2008 11:27 PM
James: My mom died December 23rd after a bout with cancer. I spoke for the family, at her funeral, and shared the gospel. (My mom was instrumental in me coming to Christ when I was 12.) One of the things I shared was that one of the strongest evidences that one is saved is this: EVERY GROWING CHRISTIAN WILL HAVE AN UNSTOPPABLE HUNGER FOR GOD'S WORD. I'm so glad my mom knew Jesus! Thank you for preaching the WORD without apology.
Posted by: Asha Jeyathas | January 12, 2008 08:41 AM
Dear Pastor Macdonald, this is very true. We need more meat everyday of our lives. I listen to your broadcase and I am nourished by the words. You are indeed a God's servant. Me living with an unbeliever it gives me courage and strength by the word of God. God is so good and he always listens to a humble heart, as I pour myself to God. God's words are indeed a sword, a fire, a light,a seed and everything to a yearning heart.
Posted by: Pat | January 12, 2008 09:31 AM
Happy New Year Pastor James and thank you for your broadcasts as they help me understand and put God's words into my every day life. I am a new Christian and I try each day to learn, remember and study God's word. When I am confused you bring clarity with your messages that can be practically and realistically applied to my life. God Bless you.
Posted by: Theresa | January 14, 2008 12:54 PM
I thank God for you Pastor James. You are one of the most effective communicators of Gods Word and He knows it. The gift you give in words change lives through Christ.
I pray for you. Gods best for you. His strength for you.
Posted by: Kenneth Gregory | February 25, 2008 05:30 PM
I thank God for the gift and the passion that He has given to you to preach His truth.
It is so great how He makes His beautiful light shine upon us in darkness, to expose our sin and give us guidance, at the same time, He makes that same wonderful light reflect off of us into the lives of others, in order to draw them unto Himself.
I will continue to pray for you, your family, your church and your listeners. Please keep my family and I in your prayers as well.
God bless you,
Kenny
Posted by: Dan Harrigan | March 1, 2008 08:31 PM
There are approximately 36,000 Protestant denominations according to the Oxford Dictionary on the Christian Church.There are 5 new founded every week.They all use the same bible but some believe in infant baptism,some don't.Others believe in the rapture,some don't.Some are liturgical and others are not.Some have women pastors,some forbid it. I'm confused on how we know there are 27 N.T. books and by whose authority we know they are inspired.Some of the Gospels don't hv authors names
Dan:
You analogy reminds me of saying there are so many tributaries to this river their can't possibly be an ocean, (I know it's in reverse, but you get the point)
Give me your address and I'll send you a copy of God Wrote a Book. It details the historical process that led to the confirmation of the NT cannon. You can't say we were never at the source just because so many have wandered so far off the path.
james