A Word To Embrace

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Words are important. They are spoken or written for communication from one person to another. God spoke and created everything out of nothing. He even talks to us today through His living and active Word, the Bible. The Apostle Paul warns us against using our words as a weapon that destroys life in another person, but instead, speak things that are kind and build others up.

In Scripture, we read the tongue is sharper than a double-edged sword. It is found both in the Old Testament and in the New Testament books of the Bible. The author of Proverbs tells us plainly, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” John, in his account of Jesus’ ministry on earth, calls Jesus the Word. Jesus was the Word in the beginning; He was with God and was God. Nevertheless, words are a big deal.

Words of the past.

If you recall, I have a practice of choosing a word that I believe God has placed on my life for the coming year. I usually start in November, reading the Scriptures and praying for God to reveal what He wants for me in the next year-long season of life. 

Here is a recap thus far:

2016 – Intentional

2017 – Endurance

2018 – Trust

2019 – Pursuit

Each year, I would regularly pray that help me with being intentional with my friend, who is not a believer. God, give me the endurance to finish school well and do my best work. Father, I trust you with my family and the calling you have placed on my life to lead them to you. As I live my life in pursuit of the ministry, you have called me to, I pray that I would be faithful to you, my family, and those you have called me to lead.

This year is no different. God’s Word is living and active, and I believe He still speaks to us today. We only need to read His Scriptures and ask to join into a relationship with Him. 

You would think that the word would be focus because this year is 2020, but you would be wrong. That is too obvious a word and a bit cliche´.

2020 – Dwell

In Scripture, anyone who saw God’s majesty or His power either died or were changed. Abraham saw “the Angel of the Lord” with the news Sarai would give birth to a son in their old age. Moses saw God’s glory in a burning bush, later, in the cleft of the rock. Elijah witnessed God throw down fire on the altar and spoke to him, not in the wind, the earthquake, or the fire, but a whisper. The prophet Isaiah had a vision of God in His throne room and confessed he must die in God’s presence. Why would these men and these situations cause them to think they should die in God’s presence?

God is Holy, and humankind is not. In Isaiah’s vision, the angel brings a lump of coal and burns his lips. This act was to make him holy so he could stand in the presence of God without dying. Our sin separates us from the Holy God.

God is holy, but what exactly does the word holy mean? What does the Bible define as holy?

The Hebrew word for holy is “qodesh” and means “apartness, set-apartness, separateness, sacredness, and other” because God is totally above His creation and His creatures, including us. Holy has the idea of heaviness or weight of glory. In the New Testament, the word for holy is “hagios” and means set apart, reverend, sacred, and worthy of adoration. This word applies to God because God Himself is other, separate, sacred, transcendent, and set apart from every created thing.

The King And His Archers.

Once upon a time, there was a king who was the ruler over a vast kingdom. One day the King decided that he wanted to develop a group of archers. So he sent his assistants out across the kingdom to search for young boys who exhibited skill, initiative, and the ability to learn. The twenty boys selected were taken from their homes and were given the privilege of living with the king.  

There, they were treated as if they were the King’s children. He provided them with the best teachers, and care money would afford. These boys grew into fine young men and were undoubtedly, the best-skilled archers in all the kingdom.

The King’s Moment.

The day came when the King wanted to flaunt how great his archers had become. He created a contest. Every archer that hit the bull’s eye at a distance determined by the King would receive a portion of His kingdom. For the average person, this would be an impossible task, but simple for the King’s highly trained archers. 

The day before the tournament, the King gathered the twenty archers he spent years developing and told them, “Tomorrow is the day you have prepared for your entire life. I also have a few instructions for you. Tonight, go to bed early. Don’t go into the town and fill yourselves with wine and stay up and party with women.” 

The archers listened to the King’s instructions, but later in the night, they were too anxious and needed to let off steam so they could be ready to shoot their arrows and receive their reward. Eventually, all the archers left their room. They drank wine, partied with women, and did not get the rest they needed. 

A few hours later, the tournament was to begin. The King smiled at his archers and the people of his kingdom. He waved his arm, and the archers released their arrows toward the target. To the King’s shock, none of the arrows hit the mark. 

What did the archers do wrong? Did they drink too much? Did they stay out too late? Perhaps, they disobeyed the King? 

All of those are incorrect.

Failure In One Area.

The archers failed in only one area. They failed to do what they were created to do. They were created to hit the bull’s eye. The Bible tells us we fail to do what we were designed to do…reflect God’s glory.

Sin keeps us from realizing our purpose. The word “sin” in Greek means to miss the mark. Any sin-no matter how big or small keeps us from doing what we were designed to do.

We could not hit the mark, so Jesus made up for our shortfall. He changed everything! Jesus left His throne in Heaven to take the form of a man. He put on flesh so He could live the life we were created to live. He then died the death that we were condemned to die. Death could not hold him; the veil that separated God and man tore before him. He silenced sin and death. He rose from the pits of destruction and took the keys of Hell with Him. Jesus is sitting at the right-hand of Holy God praying for me and praying for you. He is our Great High Priest.

The Great High Priest.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need.” Hebrew 4:14-16.

Jesus is standing in the “gap” for me and also for you. He has made His dwelling place in my life. I don’t want to miss out on Christ and have all the things the world tells me I need. God desires to dwell with me. This is not a new idea of God’s, maybe I’m finally listening. I desire to grow deeper in my relationship with Him in this season.

How will God use this simple act of obedience to teach me more about His grace and mercy? How can I share it with those He has placed in my life?

Like the archers, we fail at doing the thing we were created. Every one of us has missed the mark. God deserves all glory and praise.

Why are you waiting? God desires a relationship with you today? I ask you to spend time reflecting on what the Bible says about God and the demonstration of His love for you on the cross.

I encourage you to dwell with the Almighty this year along with me.