As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.
Isaiah 55:10-11
Following Jesus
Daily Devotion – July 14, 2018
Devotion based on Isaiah 55:10-11
See series: Devotions
It’s called the hydrological cycle—evaporation and precipitation. But you don’t have to know those big words or be a scientist to figure it out. The water on planet earth in its three forms, ice, liquid water, and steam are in a cycle. The water from the mountain stream eventually ends up in the ocean, then it evaporates into the clouds, which in turn causes rain to fall in the mountains, feeding the mountain streams.
But even that is more complex than you really need. Simply, God sends water and it does its job. Whether it’s to make plants grow or for people to drink or to provide a habitat for fish to survive, the water that God sends, he sends for a reason and it serves that purpose well.
So it is with the Word of God. When he sends it, it accomplishes something. It doesn’t come back to God without doing something. Will that something always be conversion to faith in Christ? No, sadly not always. Sometimes that Word of God causes people to realize that following Jesus is an all or nothing proposition. “Jesus died on the cross to pay for my sins!” I can’t sort-of believe that, and when the Word is preached it leads some to faith in Jesus or results in people hardening their hearts in unbelief.
So we should proclaim that Word. Loudly and confidently we should announce the gospel of Christ. We shouldn’t be quiet about it, for it’s the living and active and powerful Word of God! It’s not a waste of time to proclaim Jesus. The proclamation of the Bible’s message won’t return to God empty but will accomplish his purpose.
The Word won’t return to God empty and neither does it leave us empty. We are filled with the joy and peace and hope that only forgiveness can bring. Knowing that we are saved, and heaven is our home, we can tell others that same message that they too might be saved and that their empty hearts might be filled with joy and peace and hope, just like ours.
Prayer:
Lord God, thank you for filling me with your love and sending your gospel into my heart. Help me to send your Word out in my life, that more people might be won for you and your glory. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This devotion was selected from the Daily Devotion archive.
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