Rain, water, and words

It never ceases to amaze me that Bible verses I read or memorized many, many years ago have suddenly become alive to me; filling my mind, my consciousness.

I was re-reading what Paul wrote to the church at Corinth in his second letter about generosity. Apparently, the people of Corinth had gotten so excited about the opportunity to help others out that they decided to send money to other people who were struggling. Paul was coming to collect that gift. He knew they didn't have tons of money, but in their eagerness to be a part of what God was doing, they had made a promise to give a certain amount. Certainly no one twisted their collective arm. They were just so enthused about giving that they had made a promise.

Paul was reminding them before he came to be sure to have the money ready so he could take it those who were in dire need, and to continue giving out of a cheerful heart and not under compulsion. As I was reading again about the law of Karma (or reaping and sowing), I kept thinking about an old verse from Isaiah about how God's word is powerful and effective. Just like rain waters the earth and makes the earth productive, God's words accomplish his purposes.

Maybe it was the phrase which Paul used in II Corinthians 9:10, "seed to the sower and bread for food" which triggered the memory of the ancient writings of Isaiah in Chapter 55.

But this is all too good not to record all of what Paul and Isaiah both wrote concerning God's power and his words and our participation WITH him. Paul writes in II Corinthians 9:6-12-

"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. As it is written: 'He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever.'

Now he who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will also supply and increase your store of seed and will enlarge the harvest of your righteousness. You will be made rich in every way so that you can be generous on every occasion, and through us your generosity will result in thanksgiving to God. This service you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God."

Isaiah wrote this (55:10-11): " As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it."

I love this. Paul is not only talking about financial blessing (though it is the main point of his discussion), he is also talking about us having everything we need at all times so that we can be a blessing or joy to others. This is where we get to particpate WITH God. When we understand his word(s), we begin to speak life and hope and healing to those around us. But it's not just empty words. We also get to give!

When we begin to understand that Jesus IS the word of God; that he sustains ALL things, the whole universe is held together by his powerful word, then we begin to see that he also fought and won battles of the mind and spirit through the spoken and written, revealed word of God. When he was being tempted after fasting for 40 days, he overcame temptation by speaking the word of God. He understood that God, who was able to make water appear in the desert out of plain rock (Exodus 17: 1-7) or to make bitter water sweet (Ex. 15:22-25) and bread or manna to appear from the skies (Exodus chapter 16), was able to supply everything he needed. He recognized that HE was the bread from heaven. God's word is more sustaining than food or water.

This is why John called him the word of God which came down from heaven and lived among us. This is why Jesus said in response to temptation: "Man does not live on bread alone, but every word which proceeds from the mouth of God." This is why he quoted the written words of God. He knew that they are powerful and effective.

And we get to participate in this same incredible gift of God when we understand the power of his word at work in our lives. When we understand what HE says about us, we know that nothing is impossible. We begin to ask God, "What do you want to accomplish?" We begin to pray things like David did: "May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in your sight, Oh Lord, my strength and my redeemer."

We understand that words are not static, but kinetic. It is the greek word "logos". According to Webster, logos is a philosophical concept which means "1) reason, thought of as constituting the controlling principle of the universe and as being manifested by speech, or 2) the eternal thought or word of God made incarnate in Jesus Christ (John 1)."

It always comes down to this: Will I choose to speak negative words? Or will I choose to speak words of life and act in such a way that my words are not hollow? Will I choose love? Will I choose life?