“And we also thank God continually
because, when you received the word of God,
which you heard from us,
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.
I Thessalonians 2:13
This passage contrasts the Word of God to the word of men. Paul wanted to ensure his readers knew he was not speaking his own thoughts, but sharing those given by God through the prompting of the Holy Spirit.
Paul was thanking God because the Thessalonians not only received the Word of God, but also accepted it.
We read these same words 2000 years later and must ask ourselves, “Do we believe this book is the Word of God?” If so, are we receiving it and accepting it? And what does it mean to receive and accept God’s Word?
We may hear it — even know it well enough to quote it, recite it, and tell it — but are allowing it to work in us? When we allow the Word of God to mess in our “business” (our marriage, finances, parenting, entertainment habits, family dynamics, word choices, social media posts, friendships, fashion choices, etc.) then we’ve moved beyond the surface of receiving. We are accepting it into our life.
It’s October, so perhaps a football analogy will work: the quarterback throws the ball to his wide receiver. His teammate receives the ball, but now he has a choice. Will he stand there and hold it, or will he run with it?
We plant ourselves in a place to hear the Word — to listen and learn — when we hear our pastor on Sunday, open the Word each morning on our own, or learn from one another in Bible study or small group. But if we are to “woman up” and really allow it to work in us, we must OWN it. We must choose to live it out, so that we are no longer satisfied to be only hearers of the Word … we are spurred on to be doers.
Is God’s Word working in you? Is it working its way out of you? Can we pray that we not only hear it – but heed it?
As we choose to continually put ourselves in a position to receive the Word, and then choose to intentionally accept what we receive, we become transformed. The world loses its grip on us. Our “have-tos” become “want-tos” and we find ourselves delighting to live in Him and make much of Him.
Are you ready to receive and accept the Word of God?
Watch for the next installment in our Write The WORD series,
coming this Thursday, October 31st!
Please visit them at www.AReasonFor.com for homeschooling materials that combine academic excellence with scripture values.