SATURATING YOUR LIFE WITH THE WORD OF GOD
When we were born, we came equipped with some wonderful features as standard equipment. We were given complex receiving stations designed to collect and process stimuli that would be needed for us to function rationally. In order to saturate our lives with the “word of God” we need to utilize some of our unique and standard equipment features.
As we receive the spoken Word of God and the written Word of God into our lives, we will be utilizing our minds, our emotions, and our wills -- with the cooperation of our eyes and our ears. In order to illustrate this phenomenon, we will employ a commonly used diagram of interfacing circles linked in unity and dependency. Notice how the written or spoken Word of God is received simultaneously by the function of our minds, our emotions, and our wills, or volitions).
By this process, the stimuli of the Word of God are received into our lives. The incoming information is assimilated and organized toward a course of action and the “will” is employed regarding our Faith vs. Unbelief reception sequence. Our conscious part of the deal is to simply enjoy the hearing, reading, studying, and even memorizing the written or spoken Word of God.
Now, when it comes to experiencing the Living Word of God in our lives, we are in for a real treat! An experiential and observable miracle takes place in the believer’s life. Jesus Christ, himself, the actual incarnate “Living Word” enters by His Spirit into our very being and takes up residence in our Heart – our Spirit:
For in Christ there is all of God in a human body; so, you have everything when you have Christ and you are filled with God through your union with Christ. (Col. 2:9,10 TLB)
For God is at work within you, helping you want to obey him, and then helping you do what he wants. (Phil. 2:13 TLB)
We get to experience all of that miracle activity, while we are simply soaking up and saturating our lives with the Word of God. The Written and Spoken Word penetrates and influences us from the outside in! Also, the indwelling Spirit of God enters into our heart or Spirit and penetrates and influences us from the inside out! When it comes to the Word of God and our ability to grow and mature in knowledge and understanding of reality and truth – my motto is: The More, the Better!
That certainly makes things more understandable, when the Bible states:
Christ in your hearts is your only hope of glory. (Col. 1:27 TLB)
That is so uncomplicated and beautiful!
Story Time:
Before we leave this subject of God’s Word, I just have to share with you one of my favorite unorthodox stories that happened to me in Beijing, China. We are instructed to memorize the scriptures and hide them in our minds and hearts, so that they can be our sword and protection in our times of need. Over the years, Anna Marie and I have memorized some of our favorite verses and chapters and quote them together quite often wherever we find ourselves. I do understand the admonition to learn the scriptures for our good – but this situation took a little different twist!
I was staying at the big Swiss Hotel in Beijing, and had set my alarm for an early wakeup and departure from the hotel in order to catch my early flight from the Beijing International Airport. After being gone for nearly a month, I was thrilled to be on my way back home to beautiful Evergreen, Colorado. The hotel concierge made sure I was loaded into a taxi headed for the airport. I was the only passenger. As we pulled away from the hotel, the driver pointed to his watch and rubbed his eyes. Even though he didn’t understand English and I did not understand Chinese, we were communicating that he had been driving taxi the day before and all night, and now he was very tired.
So, it was not a big surprise to me as we pulled onto the large concrete highway headed for the airport, that the driver’s head was nodding and he was dozing at the wheel! After a couple of unacceptable wanderings and quick jerks of the steering wheel to get us back into the correct lane – I decided it was time to engage this fellow in a lively conversation in order to keep him awake all the way to the airport. I was in the back seat, and slid over directly behind him and put my hand on his shoulder. He jumped a bit and began laughing and talking very fast. He knew that I knew he was dozing. We needed an invigorating conversation. Whether he understood a word of what I was going to say, or not, we were going to have a conversation based on King David’s biblical presentation of 91st Psalm.
I began – “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, he is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in him will I trust.” As I would speak, I would enunciate very clearly and vary the speed, volume, and pitch, as if I were telling him my most favorite story in my repertoire. At the end of each phrase, I would emphasize the last word, and the inflection of my voice would go up – while I would pat or grip his shoulder.
He would take the signal and laugh and start in on his answer to my question. I had no foggy idea what he was saying – but he did. As soon as he started to slow down in his narrative, I would start in on my next phrase: “Surely, He shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from noisome pestilence . . .” Off we would go again. The driver was thoroughly enjoying himself, using hand gestures and occasionally glancing at me in his rearview mirror.
I really enjoyed the part where it was my turn, and I began: “For He shall give his angles charge over thee to keep thee in all thy ways. They shall bear thee up in their hand, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.” Our conversation was absolutely wonderful – one of the best I have ever had!
Do you have any idea how long you can stretch out the quoting of the 91st Psalm? That’s right! From the Swiss Hotel in Beijing, all the way out to the Beijing International Airport!
As we pulled up in front of the airport check-in doors, I paid my new Chinese taxi driver-friend the required fare – and then a good tip for such a wonderful and unforgettable experience.
As I took my suitcase and walked into the terminal, I think I could hear the angels that had been assigned to me to protect me on my way home to Colorado. I think they were saying something like, “Did you hear all that – that was an absolute hoot! Just wait until the Good Lord reads our report on our assignment. It will absolutely make his day! – glad the Jacksons took advantage of memorizing Scripture when they had a chance.”
Next Week: Magnificent Miracle of Humans