Word and Deed

My devotions this morning included a portion of Scripture that caused me to ponder the character of God and His presence in this fallen world. The last few months have given me a variety of reminders about the fallen aspects that have led me through deep shadows. Today I come before His throne with gratefulness and praises for sustaining me through His Word.

Isaiah 55:8-11 is a message directly from God. He begins by reminding us that His thoughts and ways are as high above ours as the heavens are above the earth. Our Heavenly Father goes on by comparing His divine faithfulness to the certainty of the water cycle - raining, watering, evaporating. He emphasizes the nourishing part of the watering phase by outlining the budding, flourishing, and harvesting it produces. In verse 11 God points out that, "so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

As surely as rain flows over the earth causing it to flourish, God's word flows over the earth causing His desires to be accomplished. As surely as rainwater returns to the skies having nourished the soil and thereby fed mankind, God's word returns to Him having achieved the purposes for which He sent it. As surely as rain brings moisture to dry ground and causes it to blossom, God's word brings life to troubled hearts and causes them to blossom.

How does God's word go out?
Genesis 1:3a And God said, 'Let there be light.'
In the beginning, God spoke.

Hebrews 1:1,2 In the past God spoke to our forefathers through the prophets . . . , but in the last days he has spoken to us by His Son.
John 1:1,2 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning.
Through the prophets in Old Testament times and by His Son in the New Testament, God spoke.

2 Peter 1:21 For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
2 Timothy 3:16a All Scripture is God-breathed.
Through the men who spoke and recorded His words, God continues to speak.

What do God's words do?
Genesis 1:2a Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness over the surface of the deep.
Genesis 1:3-30 God said . . . And it was so.
God's words replace emptiness and darkness with order and beauty, life and work, love and blessings.

John 1:3,4 Through him [God's Son, the Word] all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men.
John 10:10b I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.
Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
Ephesians 4:12 For it was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, to prepare God's people for works of service so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
Ephesians 2:10 For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
God's Word replaces emptiness and darkness with order and beauty, life and work, love and blessings in both the physical and spiritual realms.

2 Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.
God's words continue to replace emptiness and darkness with order and beauty, life and work, love and blessings. Hallelujah!!

How do God's words return?
Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.
Genesis 1:31-2:1 God saw all that he had made, and it was very good. Thus the heavens and the earth were completed in all their vast array.
In creation, God's words accomplished what He desired and achieved the purpose for which He sent them.

Matthew 1:21 She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.
Matthew 9:13b For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.
Luke 19:10 The Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.
Ephesians 4:8, Psalm 68:18 When he ascended on high, he led captives in his train and gave gifts to men.
Romans 8:34 Christ Jesus, who died - more than that, who was raised to life - is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.
Romans 5:11 Not only is this so, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
John 14:2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you.
God's Word accomplished what He desired and achieved the purpose for which His Father sent Him. The Son reigns in heaven, actively sustaining, protecting, and preparing His people to glorify God and enjoy Him forever.

Isaiah 55:11 It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Romans 5:1- Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
The Scriptures are filled with verses and passages that proclaim God's promises. They are too numerous to list here. I encourage you to seek the ones that will meet your own set of needs.
In His Holy Word, God is accomplishing that which He desires and achieves the purpose for which He sent them.

This glimpse into the character and presence of God has ignited my heart with flames of fresh life and light, peace and confidence, joy and hope. In my gratefulness I lift up all the glory, honor, praise and adoration I can imagine as a sanctified offering before His righteous throne. No matter what the circumstances I choose to wait humbly and expectantly for the blossoming that is sure to come under His hand. Amen