Verse: 1 Thessalonians 2:13
And we also thank God continually because, when you received the word of God, which you heard from us, you accepted it not as a human word, but as it actually is, the word of God, which is indeed at work in you who believe.

Devotion
In April I got very sick with Covid. It was not fun. One of the things I did regularly during that time was take medicine. My fever would spike, and I would take medicine, and the medicine would work inside of me. I couldn’t see what the medicine was doing, but I could eventually feel the effects.

I like how this verse says that the Word of God is “at work in you who believe.” It reminds me of taking medicine. When we read the Word of God, it goes into our minds, hearts, and souls. And the Word is “at work” in us. We can’t always see what it is doing, or know how it is changing us, but we can trust that when we read/study/memorize/pray/meditate on the Word of God—that it is working inside of us.

Isaiah prophesied about God’s word in Isaiah 55:11

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.

His Word does not “return to him empty.” In other words, it does the work he intended it to. When we spend time with God’s Word, it works in us and on us! It works on our character. It works in our hearts. It teaches us of God’s love. It speaks of his holiness. And it teaches us about Jesus and the life lived following him.

Hebrews 4:12 tells us that

the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

The Word of God has power to change us from the inside out. That is why we read it daily. That is the power of his word that we need so desperately. Because we are sick. We are plagued by the sickness of sin and brokeness. But his Word is the remedy. And as we allow ourselves to come under his Word, we will be healed, transformed, and changed to become who he is calling us to be!

Prayer
I pray that you would speak to me through your Word on a regular basis God! Give me a heart that is open to your Word!

Author: Christian Dunn