"For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but as the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe."
1 Thessalonians 2:13
Considering religions of today the only one I know of who has a living, loving God is the Christian faith. Buddha, Mohammad, Allah, etc are all dead. New age religions which believe we are god all die as well. The Christian faith does not only have a living God but the Bible, His Word is living also. Hebrews 4:12 declares:
"The Word of God is living and active, sharper than a two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart."
As we look at our verse today we see Paul commending the Thessalonian believers for recognizing this is not the word of men, but the Word of God. We must be fully convinced of this before we can receive the promise of it performing it’s work in us. The Word of God has the power to transform us into the likeness of Christ Himself. We do not become God, but we allow Him to live His life through us as we allow our minds to be consumed with His thoughts through His Word. Romans 12:2 instructs:
"And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect."
We all are aware of personal failing and a need to be better people. We all desire to be fulfilled and have inner peace. Unlike all other religions ours comes through our God sending His Son to enable us to have exactly that. He was crucified according to the will of our Heavenly Father to pay the price for us to have eternal life in heaven. The god of the Muslim faith,
Allah, requires you to die for him, but you still are not assured of paradise eternally; you only have a hope. Yet, we are assured in John 3:16:
"For God so loved the whole world, He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever would believe upon Him would not perish, but would have eternal life."
There is no greater love to be found in existence anywhere than the God of the Bible. His love is all inclusive; Whosoever truly believes will receive eternal life in heaven. The Bible tells us in John 1:1:
"In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."
May we all have a fresh revelation in our lives for the need of a personal knowledge of what is in the Word of God. It isn’t just another book even though it exists in the form of a book. First you must believe it is not the words of man, but of God as Paul said. Then allow it to perform its work in your life transforming you into His likeness as He is able to reveal to you how much He loves you. We love Him, because He first loved and loves us. (John 4:19) His Word has the power to sanctify our lives. It reveals to us the truth about ourselves as no one else can. We learn from reading the Bible that the Truth has the power to make us free from within and from without. In John 8:31-32 Jesus was saying to those Jews who had believed Him,
"If you continue in My Word, then you are truly disciples of Mine, and you will know the truth, and the truth will make you free."
Jesus prays in John 17:17 for us to the Father:
"Sanctify them in the Truth; Your Word is Truth."
What could possibly be more important for you to pursue in your daily life than the revelations of perfect wisdom for life here on this earth and beyond this life, that lie within the pages of God’s written Word?
In His love.
Teresa Roberts
Masterpiece Fitness
276-237-6680
Photos from a trek to Grayson Highland Park to do the loop trail to Mount Roger’s which is noted with the highest elevation in Virginia.
