GOD'S WORD IN US, A PRESCRIPTION FOR LIFE

   

As believers, we make much of "being in the Word."  Being in the Word is important, however, unless the Word is in us, being in the word is an exercise in futility. As Christ followers, we go to churcch are around the Word, we hear scripture read, we see it on social media posts, we may even read a bit for ourselves, so we are in the Word.  The most important question every believer must ask: "Is the Word in me?"  

    A man went to the doctor with a life threatening illness. The doctor explained the illness to the man and prescribed the medicine needed to cure the illness.  The man was very excited about the cure and listened intently as the doctor described how the medicine would eradicate illness.  The man hurried to the pharmacy, filled the prescription given him by the doctor and listened as the pharmacist explained the proper way to use the medicine.

     The man went home, read all the material on the medicine he could find.  The man carried the medicine around with him everywhere he went and excitedly told people he came in contact with about the medicine.  One day, the man died from the illness, in his pocket, an unopened bottle of medicine...  The man was around the medicine, he was well versed in the medicine, but, sadly, the medicine was not in him.  The medicine had no effect because it was not put into practice.

     How many followers of Christ go through life learning about and proclaiming the greatness of scripture without ever implementing or putting into practice the teachings of scripture?  Is there a difference between knowing and believing?  Is the 12 inches between the brain and the heart really the distance between heaven and hell?  I believe it is.   James, the half brother of Jesus tells us as much: James 1:22  But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.

 I encourage you, allow the Word in, allow it to transform you by the power of the Holy Spirit.  How sad it is for the man who possessed life saving medicine, yet never used it.  How much sadder for those who possess the very words of God the Creator and never put them into practice.  In the word of Bluesman, Blind Willie Johnson, "If I don't read and my soul is lost... it's nobody's fault but mine."

Now, go live as Christ... and give the devil hell!