Word of God, Speak
In the song “Word of God, Speak” (by Mercy Me), the words to the refrain are:
Word of God speak
Would You pour down like rain
Washing my eyes to see Your majesty
To be still and know
That You're in this place
Please let me stay and rest
In Your holiness
This song is a prayer and an invitation, almost a plea, for God’s word to be present in the writer’s life and heart, so that they might hear what God would say.
Last Sunday, we heard the "Parable of the Sower" in our Gospel reading (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23). In this parable, Jesus compares seeds to the word of the kingdom of God – the good news of God's love, grace, mercy, forgiveness, faithfulness, compassion, and salvation.
Jesus also talked about the soil in which the seeds land. God doesn't expect or wait for us to be perfect soil; instead, no matter what kind of soil we might be at the moment, God is always sowing the seeds of this word into the world and into us – lavishly, abundantly, extravagantly, over and over again! God's words of promise in Jesus (and the Word who is Jesus) cannot be limited or used up, shut out or shut in.
God also promises that the word will accomplish what God intends: "So shall be my word that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it." (Isaiah 55:11). God’s word for us and in us is never wasted.
After worship, though, I was left wondering: How do we hear and receive God's word? Or, to put it another way, where do we encounter the word of God?
Worship, obviously, is the first thing that comes to my mind. Everything in our worship prepares our hearts and minds to hear and receive the word of God in a variety of ways. All the texts of the prayers, songs, liturgy, readings, are God's word. And hopefully, the message also has something to say.
We also encounter the incarnate Word in Christ in the water of baptism, the bread and wine of holy communion, which are Christ's very self, given for the sake of the world, and in the assembly of believers. (Remember, “where two or more are gathered in my name... “)
This time of year, especially, with summer activities, travel, family time, sports, and so many other things to do in our busy lives, we may not attend worship regularly, for a number of different reasons. (Not a judgment, just a reality of life.) But, if we aren't in worship, where else can we hear and receive God's word?
Here are some ideas – if you have others, I would love to hear them!!
Watch the video of worship on the Grace Lutheran Church playlist.
Read the Bible on your own. The weekly readings are in Grace Notes and on the website (Weekly Readings). Use a devotional. Find a "verse of the day" app for your phone. There are lots of options!
Read Bible stories or books with your kids and grandkids. Even better, have them read to you! The Spark Story Bible is a good one, and we are starting to include a story for the week in Grace Notes. The library at Grace has lots of children’s books that you can check out!
Join a Bible study. We gather at Grace on Tuesday morning at 9:00 am to read and discuss the upcoming Sunday's texts. On Wednesday evenings (starting 9/6) at 6:00 pm, we will offer "Dwelling in the Word" on the gospel reading for that week.
Some less obvious ideas:
Music. Listen to songs on the radio or a cd or from a playlist. Many classic hymns and contemporary Christian music are based on Scripture.
Prayer. Spend a few minutes (or more) each day in prayer, not only sharing what's on your heart with God, but in silence, to hear what God might say to you.
Serve others. In Matthew 25:35 and following, Jesus says that when we serve others, especially the most vulnerable of our neighbors, we encounter and serve Him.
Spend time each day in God's Word. As we encounter this story about God and us, this word of promise, in Scripture and in our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, God works in our hearts to transform us and to make us new every day. Thanks be to God!
In Christ's peace,
Pastor Tania
