16 July 2017 - no return policy

Today's Readings

so shall my word be
that goes forth from my mouth;
my word shall not return to me void,
but shall do my will,
achieving the end for which I sent it.

The word that goes forth from the mouth of the LORD shall not return to him void. It has the power necessary to give bread to the one who eats and seed to the one who sows. It contains the full potential of a one hundred fold harvest.

Yet the intent of the LORD is not grow a harvest on bad soil. He scatters everywhere but their is freedom in how his word is received. There is no one who cannot be transformed by it. But there are those who, in spite of the power of the word, allow themselves to choose the things of this world instead of the word. And by those, I mean us. We all do this at times. We all let tribulation, persecution, and worldly anxiety interfere with the power of God's word to give life.

But some seed fell on rich soil, and produced fruit,
a hundred or sixty or thirtyfold. 
Whoever has ears ought to hear.

The call today is to let God plant his word so deeply in us that no combination of the world, the flesh, or the devil, can take it from us. As long as we keep the seed we receive the life it offers without fail. It does not return to God void. We need this word to be deeply planted in us. We need its roots to reach through all of our thoughts and feelings and desires. We need it to be such a part of us that we can't imagine ourselves without it. It is meant to come to define who we are.

The word of God itself contains the power to defend us against the temptations which suffering and persecution bring.

I consider that the sufferings of this present time are as nothing
compared with the glory to be revealed for us. 

So let us allow God to plant his word as deeply in us as he desires. The next time we suffer let us claim this promise until it becomes habit to speak the word when we face challenges. Then it will be planted deep within us. It will stretch out roots throughout our beings.

You crown the year with your goodness.
Abundance flows in your steps;
in the pastures of the wilderness it flows.