If we let the word of God take up residence within us, it will become
something. It is alive. In fact, “It is living and active and sharper
than any double-edged sword,” the writer of Hebrews reminds us. We do not have to try and make it into
something, it already is something, and will become something more in us as we
give it time and space.
The problem is that while we
may indeed read the word of God, we do not typically allow it the time and the space
to become—to live and dwell within us. We
do not give it room to have a life of its own.
Therefore, more often than not, the seed of the word falls on the
hardened path of our own busyness and activity and comes to nothing. What a tragedy.
If we truly desire intimacy
with God, if we truly want to hear God speak to us, we must learn how to plant
his word in our hearts and souls in a way that it comes alive in us, and then
works its way out into our lives and our world.
We must, as Eugene Peterson so beautifully said, turn our eyes into
ears. We must come to God’s word
fully realizing its personal and specific nature, fully realizing its potential
to speak deeply into our hearts and lives.
And we must make time and space for it to do so. It will not happen by accident.
This commandment that I’m commanding you today
isn’t too much for you, it’s not out of your reach. It’s not on a high
mountain—you don’t have to get mountaineers to climb the peak and bring it down
to your level and explain it before you can live it. And it’s not across the
ocean—you don’t have to send sailors out to get it, bring it back, and then
explain it before you can live it. No. The word is right here and now—as near
as the tongue in your mouth, as near as the heart in your chest. Just do it!
(Deuteronomy 30:11-14, The Message)
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