WORD OF GOD CAN COME TO US IN MANY WAYS - THROUGH DREAMS, THROUGH SILENCE, THROUGH CIRCUMSTANCES, THROUGH ADVICE OF FRIENDS, THROUGH NATURE, THROUGH HISTORY, THROUGH CONSCIENCE. THREE KEY WAYS IT COMES TO US - THROUGH A PROPHET OR A PREACHER; THROUGH SCRIPTURE AND ULTIMATELY THROUGH THE LIVING CHRIST.
(By the way, the word of God through preaching can come through print. There are some sermons books about the Christian life which, when you read them, seem to have the words jump off the page and say 'Hold on! This is for you!'
SOMETIMES THE WORD OF GOD COMES TO US AS LAW - 'DO THIS AND YOU WILL LIVE' - SINAI, THE WORDS OF THE PROPHETS, MUCH OF CHRIST'S TEACHING, EVANGELICAL COMMAND TO REPENT; IT COMES AS PROMISE - 'I WILL BE WITH YOU' - (AND YOUR DESCENDENTS, ABRAHAM, AT YOUR SUFFERING AND YOUR DYING, CHRISTIAN); AND AS TESTIMONY - 'THIS IS WISDOM'.
ALWAYS THE WORD OF GOD TO US AND UPON US IS ABSOLUTE - IT IS TO BE RECEIVED, TRUSTED AND OBEYED, BECAUSE IS IT THE WORD OF OUR GOD AND KING, CREATOR SUSTAINER REDEEMER, RESURRECTOR AND JUDGE.
BIBLE
WILLIAM BARCLAY ONCE SAID 'THE FATE OF THE BIBLE IS THE FATE OF THE CHURCH.' WE DO NOT WORSHIP THE BIBLE: WE WORSHIP THE LIVING GOD WHOSE LIVING WORD IS IN SCRIPTURE. LIKE THE INCARNATE CHRIST, THE BIBLE IS BOTH HUMAN AND DIVINE, BOTH.
Last eve I paused beside a blacksmith's door, And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime; Then, looking in, I saw upon the floor Old hammers, worn with beating years of time.
'How many anvils have you had', said I, 'To wear and batter all those hammers so?' 'Just one,' said he; and then with twinkling eye, 'The anvil wears the hammers out, you know.'
And so I thought the anvil of God's Word For ages skeptic blows have beat upon; Yet, though the noise of falling blows were heard, The anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone.
THE WORDS OF CHRIST ARE POWERFUL IN THEIR ENDURANCE: 'MY WORDS SHALL NOT PASS AWAY' (MT 24:35)
POWERFUL IN THEIR CLEANSING: 'YOU ARE CLEAN THROUGH THE WORD WHICH I HAVE SPOKEN TO YOU'.
THE WORD OR WORDS OF ANY SIGNIFICANT PERSON HAVE GREAT POWER. IF PRESIDENT SADDAM HUSSEIN SAID 'OK WE'LL PULL OUT OF KUWAIT' THE REVERBERATIONS WOULD BE FELT AROUND THE WORLD. OR IF PRESIDENT GEORGE BUSH SAID 'OK WE'LL AGREE TO CONVENE A MIDDLE EAST PEACE CONFERENCE TO SORT OUT A HOMELAND FOR THE PALESTINIAN PEOPLE'. PRESIDENT JIMMY CARTER ONCE MADE A COMMENT LIKE THAT, AND THE REPERCUSSIONS WERE ENORMOUS. TALKING OF AMER. PRESIDENTS LYNDON JOHNSON ONCE SAID HE ENJOYED WATCHING THE STOCK MARKET GO UP OR DOWN WITHIN AN HOUR OF HIS COMMENTS.
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