Have you ever noticed that it’s the little things in life that sometimes have the biggest impact? Take a diamond ring for instance. It’s a tiny little thing. So tiny that in fact it is often lost or misplaced. But, give that to someone asking for their forever, and it’s huge. The same can be said for a grain of sand. One teeny tiny grain in and of itself is not noticeable. Most times we cannot even see a single microscopic speck. But, put that tininess on a beach with billions of other tininess and you have a huge seashore. Or, what about a star. From earth they appear to be tiny, don’t they? But, on a dark night, look up into the sky and seeing a single star, the way it twinkles its light and illuminates the whole sky with its star friends is huge. Sometimes, seeing those Lights in the darkness illuminates our whole world, in an instant.
In scripture this week, the tiny little word “is” leapt out at me. A tiny little word really, but I was struck by its hugeness, especially when spoken by Jesus. The significance to me was like a twinkling star. Now I hate to sound like a big goof, but as that word appeared over and over in a couple of scriptures I was reading, I had to look it up. It is the “present tense singular of the word be.” Duh?
“Is” means “be.” Remember, I almost failed language class, the best I can come up with is “is” means “is.” “Be” means “is.” See, there you have it. That’s all just as clear as mud, isn’t it? Let’s get to the Word and maybe I can explain my jumbled thoughts.
For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires. Nothing in all creation is hidden from God. Everything is naked and exposed before his eyes, and he is the one to whom we are accountable. Hebrews 4:12-13 NLT
God’s Word is alive, it is active. God’s Word is powerful. It is an active, effective force. Think about that for a hot second. God’s Word is living, moving, breathing life as it works in us. Hallelujah!
The Master Physician cuts into our beings with His Word as His scalpel. He is carefully cutting away and exposing my moral and spiritual character. Ouch. Nothing can be hidden from God. My life is all laid before Him. I am completely exposed to Him. He sees my guts. I am vulnerable, helpless and utterly exposed. That’s hard to think about.
His Word is alive and powerful. Right now, right at this moment, working in me, if you are a child of God, working in you, working to separate the evil from the good. Changing me, transforming me, healing me, from the inside out. He’s cutting a path to holiness. Amen!
“Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” Matthew 7:24-27 NLT
There it was again. That word “is.” My word of the year is “foundation,” so this passage particularly struck me. Bedrock, foundation. The New Living Translation says that even though trials come, even through the storms of life, that because my house “is” built on bedrock — the solid rock, Jesus, it won’t collapse. I might sway a bit. I might take on some water. I will not collapse, crumble, or go under.
Now both of these scriptures have pertinent life lessons, the whole of the Bible does, but as I read and reread them, something started to percolate in my mind. Two separate readings kept connecting in my mind. I couldn’t get away from the word “is” and how it was used in both scriptures. The Holy Spirit kept nudging me to meditate on these verses. I prayed that the Holy Spirit would reveal the message to me, why was I hung up on these verses, that word? What was the connection? As I prayed, He revealed. Lately, that’s how it’s been for me. As I write out my scripture prayers and pleadings to Him, He teaches me.
It makes me a little raw to share for all the world to see, but I’m not sure I can put into words the way He taught me, except through my prayer.
Lord, my Word of the year – Foundation! You knew that! How firm is my foundation? How firm is my bedrock? I love in Your Word where it says “it is built on bedrock” it doesn’t say “it was built on bedrock,” or “it will be.” Not only in the past and not something I have to wait for in the future but in the now. Profound again! The Word of God is active, living, breathing, it doesn’t say it “was” even though I know you are the omnipresent God so you were, you are, you will be. Your Word is still active, is always active. Does that mean, Lord, that my foundation is being built through Your active, Living Word?!?!? Does that mean, Lord, that as Your Living Word is working in me, cutting through, that the active, powerful force of Your Word is building my foundation??
It’s outrageous, Lord, that you would reveal to me the working of Your Word. Even me! Thank you Most Kind Heavenly Father for Your Word revealed! Lord, you have shown me that Your Word is continuing to build my foundation in You. You didn’t just build it, send Jesus, and walk away and say stay right where you are, no need to go further. O, God you are so good! My Light in this darkness. You continue the work of Jesus through Your Living Word, sanctification, illuminating the holiness path. All built on Jesus’s blood and perfected (?) in Your Word.
Father, may I be obedient to You! Holy Spirit, my Counselor and Advocate teach me more. More about my God. Reveal to me Your Living Word!
Your Living Word has raised the dead, calmed the storms, brought chaos to order. Please, Lord, work in my life and the life of those I love. Raise the dead! Calm the storms! Bring order to the chaotic messes of our lives!
Lord, please activate Your Word in my life, the life of my family, the life of my friends, the life of my church!!! Lord Your Word is sent out and it never hits the ground — Your Word will never fail!
Lord, Your Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light to my path. Your Word is deep. Your Word is lasting. Thank you, Lord, for Your Word! Amen.
Such a little word is “is.” But God spoke it, that makes it huge.