According To The Word, Pt 1 - No. 88

Hebrews 4:12 JBP, “The Word that God speaks is ALIVE and active; it cuts more keenly than any two-edged sword: it strikes through to the place where soul and spirit meet, to the innermost intimacies of a man’s being: it exposes the very thoughts and motives of a man’s heart.”

As I read through Psalm 119 recently I noticed seven things that happen according to the Word of God. Shall we look at them?

1. CLEANSING ACCORDING TO THE WORD

Psalm 119: 9, “How can a young man cleanse his way? By taking heed according to your word.”

We are exhorted in James 1:27 “to keep ourselves unspotted from the world.” Do you want to keep your life pure and cleansed? Come daily to the Word of God. Jesus said, “Now you are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.” (John 15:3) It is as important to wash our souls and spirits in the Word, as it is to wash our bodies. The Word of God will also keep our homes cleansed. Read it personally. Read it together as a family at the dinner table. The Word washes us from the deceptions of this world and the spots of sin that tarnishes our souls and the atmosphere of our homes.

2. REVIVING ACCORDING TO THE WORD

Psalm 119:107, “Revive me, O Lord, according to your word.” Read also verses 25, 50, 93, 149, 154 and 156.

The Hebrew word “revive” is “chayah” and it is one of those “re” words. It means, “to rebuild, recover, restore, relive, repair, refresh and revive.”

Do you feel as though you are losing strength, losing the joy of life and becoming stale? Do you need re-ing? The Word of God will “re” you! It is animating. It is life-giving. In fact, it is your very life. Jesus counteracted the devil with these words, “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4:4 and Deuteronomy 8:3)

Jesus also said, “It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh profits nothing. The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are LIFE.” (John 6:63)

Every mother needs refreshing. She dreams of having some time on her own, taking a relaxing bath, going out to dinner or watching a wholesome movie. But the greatest way to get refreshed is often the way we think of last! It is opening the Word of God. It is your life. It will refresh you. It will restore you. It will revive you.

When Colin and I were first married over 40 years ago, we had the privilege of living in a home owned by the China Inland Mission in Whangarei, New Zealand. The only people who had ever lived in this home were missionaries. We ourselves were waiting on the Lord and preparing to go to the mission field. When we left this home a very dear couple took over from us. They had served the Lord in China for 40 years and continued in Formosa (which is now Taiwan) after China had closed. At last they were retiring. They were in their eighties!

Arthur Beard was such an inspiration to us. He loved the Word of God. It was his life. Every day he read The Daily Light, and without glasses, mind you! This book is a compilation of Scriptures for each day on a certain theme. The Scripture references are listed at the end of the page. As he read the Scriptures for each day, he would check to see if he could remember where each verse was found. He was nearly 100 percent right each time. Colin and I still read The Daily Light at our dinner table each evening.

At one stage, while on the mission field, Mr. Beard got cancer. But it didn’t stay in his body long. He read the Word of God out loud daily – and he was healed. His body was revived and made anew by the living Word of God! (Psalm 107:20)

Let the life-giving Word of God “re” you!

Love from NANCY CAMPBELL

PRAYER:

“Oh Lord, I thank you that your Word is life to my soul. Teach me how to read it in faith to receive your refreshing and reviving into my tired soul and body. Amen.”

AFFIRMATION: