The Power of the Word of God.

“The power of God’s word can be seen in the origin of all things. God spoke the world into existence. God said: “Let there be…” and it was! (Genesis 1). Yet, when it comes to our relationship with God, He has tempered the power of His word.

Consider Jesus’ parable of the sower: “Listen! Behold, a sower went out to sow. And it happened, as he sowed, that some seed fell by the wayside; and the birds of the air came and devoured it. Some fell on stony ground, where it did not have much earth; and immediately it sprang up because it had no depth of earth. But when the sun was up it was scorched, and because it had no root it withered away. And some seed fell among thorns; and the thorns grew up and choked it, and it yielded no crop. But other seed fell on good ground and yielded a crop that sprang up, increased and produced: some thirtyfold, some sixty, and some a hundred.”

And He said to them, “He who has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mark 4:3-9)

The condition of a persons heart determines the effect of the word of God. Hard hearts allow the word to be snatched away, having no effect. Shallow hearts may receive for the moment, but have no staying power and the word becomes ineffectual. Hearts preoccupied with this world and its trappings will choke out any effect of the word. All of these cause the word of God be of no good effect!

God intends for His word to have a good effect on good hearts, bearing fruit. The message is emphasized in Jesus’ conclusion: “He how has ears to hear, let him hear!” (Mark 4:9). Make sure your heart is a good heart, bearing fruit to God’s glory. That sober warning reminds us that God’s word will have full authority and final say in judgment.