God’s Word Is Like…
God does not hide it from us; He hides it for us to discover. God calls us to supremely love Him, and also His Word that reveals Him. In order to help you, I have recently reworked my For the Learner and For the Teacher tabs.
Enjoy the adventure. And be blown away as you are resourced by God’s amazing Word, revealed through these powerful word-pictures below. Savor them. Personalize each one. Maybe even doodle a picture in the margin to make it memorable (see also previous post).
7. God’s Word is like a SCALPEL for cutting to the heart of a matter.
For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow (Hebrews 4:12).
The Word is like a sharp scalpel that a skillful surgeon uses to cut out cancer that destroys health. The surgeon is precise and cuts only enough. The Word goes deep down inside us and chooses between what is good and harmful.
8. God’s Word is like a MIRROR for reflecting reality.
Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and…goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like (James 1:23-24).
Don’t just read the Bible, but let the Bible read you. The Word reveals what is real and true so we can make appropriate changes. Don’t be like the man who looks in the mirror in the morning at a smudge on his face, but then ignores it, leaving it there for all to observe. Switching metaphors, it’s kind of like a dance. God leads and we follow. Society falsely says, “all truth is relative.” By sharp contrast, we have a Word from the God who created all this. It’s absolute truth…Reality. We grow by adjusting our lives to this Reality.
9. God’s Word is like a BOWL of clean water for washing away dirt.
…Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word… (Ephesians 5:26).
Because we live in a fallen world (and God has sent us here as His ambassadors), our heart can be affected by the messages from the world. Daily Bible reading is like a refreshing shower that cleanses us.
10. God’s Word is like PRECIPITATION for sprouting seed.
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 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 (Isaiah 55:10-11).
God has set up various “means of grace,” or channels where He has promised to pour out his grace most lavishly. Some are prayer, fellowship, service…and the Word of God. Place yourself in a position to be blessed with life to experience the “drenching” of the Word like a good spring shower that produces spring flowers.
11. God’s Word is like MILK for nourishing a baby.
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation, now that you have tasted that the Lord is good (1 Peter 2:2).
Have you ever been around a hungry newborn baby? Everyone around knows her or his passion for milk. A newborn eats regularly and nursing is a very personal event. A Christian cannot grow up without a regular, healthy input of God’s Word. Milk is the healthy basics of the Word, like the Trinity’s relational love for us, the cross which removes all barriers, and His call of service on our lives as we partner together.
12. God’s Word is like a TREASURE enriching my life.
My son, if you accept my words and store up my commands within you,…and if you look for it as for silver and search for it as for hidden treasure… (Proverbs 2:1-4).
God’s Word is more precious and valuable than gold or rubies or diamonds. In our minds, pile up all the treasures in the world today on one side of a balance scale. Now stack wisdom from God’s Word enlightened by the Spirit on the other side. There would be no comparison between the values of the two. God’s Word is inexhaustible in its value.
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God,…you accepted it not as the word of men, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is at work in you who believe (1 Thessalonians 2:13).
God’s Word interpreted and applied by His Spirit is like a javelin thrown at its mark. His Words are living speech, hurled from one mind to another.
“God’s word has this aimed, intentional, personal nature. When we are spoken to this way, piercingly and penetratingly, we are not the same. These words get inside us and work their meaning in us” (Eugene Peterson).
I wonder if you could take a few moments now and summarize a few of the powerful benefits the Father, Son and Spirit offer to you and me through His Word. Take a listening posture towards God. Which one, specific benefit is most appropriate for today?
You may also find “Mining God’s Word” helpful under the tab: Resources/Jim Fredericks Books.