Believe The Word
The Bible is more than a collection of historical, ethical, and poetical books. it is the Word of God. It cannot be taken for less, for if one does so, then it is untrue, because the Bible itself says it is the Word of God. “All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.” (II Tim. 3.16) It is the Word of God for all people and for every generation. The Word of God is living and active and generates faith in all who receive it. In fact, it is the only book that when you read it, it reads you.
The Word of God is Spirit and Life. It is the substance from which the natural world was created and is sustained. In Genesis, it says that the Spirit of God was “hovering over the face of the waters” (1.2), waiting for the Word to be spoken out. When, “let there be light”, was breathed forth, the Holy Spirit had the material to create light. Just as stone and wood are substances in the physical world, the Word is substance in the spiritual world. You can build with it, stand on it, be nourished by it and walk in its light. When Jesus confronted the devil’s temptation He said: “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every Word that comes from the mouth of God.” (Mat. 4.4)
Those men and women who have distinguished themselves because of their faith, simply believed the Word of God. Peter had fished all night without catching a single fish, but when the Lord told him to cast his nets on the other side of the boat, he caught more fish than his boat could hold. He was an experienced fisherman and knew that there were no fish to be caught, but decided to believe the Word of Jesus rather than his logic. Peter said: “…at your word, I will let down the nets.” (Luke 5.5) A roman centurion came to Jesus, requesting He heal his servant. He didn’t feel worthy to receive Jesus into his home so he asked Jesus to just say the Word and his servant would be healed. (Luke 7.1-9) Peter walked on the water, when he heard Jesus say “come”. And then there was the water that was turned to wine, Lazarus who was raised from the dead, the lepers that were healed, and so many more who have testified to the Word as being from God; the Word is God.
One cannot separate the Word from God. John says that the Word became flesh, in other words, Jesus is the Word of God. You can believe it or not believe it, but you cannot change it. You cannot take from the Word or add to the Word; just believe the Word. You don’t even need to understand the Word to believe it. There is a lot of things I don’t understand, yet I believe in it. I don’t understand how electricity works, or airplanes or computers, yet I believe in them. How much more shouldn’t we just believe in the revealed Word of God? God’s thoughts are higher than our thoughts; His ways higher than ours, so stop judging, analyzing, picking apart the Word of God; just believe it.
In the nineteenth century, John Sammis wrote a hymn entitled: “Trust and Obey”. It has been a favorite of many throughout the years. It goes like this: “When we walk with the Lord, in the Light of His Word, what a glory He sheds on our way; While we do His good will, He abides with us still, and with all who will trust and obey. (chorus) Trust and obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.” This is the key to a fulfilled and successful life: Believe the Word.
Scriptures to meditate on:
John 4.50; Mat. 14.28-31; Mat. 4.4; Luke 5.5; 11.28; Is. 55.11; Prov. 21.30