Discover Joy

Oswald Smith said that to be filled with the Word is the same as being filled with the Spirit. In Acts these two terms appear to describe a single truth. Peter stated that the Gentiles “have received the Holy Spirit” (10:47). A few verses later, he stated it differently: “The Gentiles had received the word of God” (11:1).

When we welcome God’s Word into our lives, we are welcoming His Spirit. His Spirit will work through our obedience to transform our actions, attitudes, disposition, and priorities—our entire lives.

“Ye are clean through the Word” (John 15:3 KJV), Jesus promises. When we come to the Word, the Spirit literally washes us and changes our minds. The Message tells us plainly how to be washed by the Word:

“Don’t fool yourself into thinking that you are a listener when you are anything but, letting the Word go in one ear and out the other. Act on what you hear! Those who hear and don’t act are like those who glance in the mirror, walk away, and two minutes later have no idea who they are, what they look like.

“But whoever catches a glimpse of the revealed counsel of God—the free life!—even out of the corner of his eye, and sticks with it, is no distracted scatterbrain but a man or woman of action. That person will find delight and affirmation in the action” (James 1:21-25 The Message).

It is possible for us to habitually read and fail to pause for real cleansing. We can be content to discover insights and enjoy passing those insights on to others but miss the joy of allowing His Words to change us.

Come to scripture anticipating an encounter with God. As you take in His words, eager to live by them, God’s Spirit accompanies those words.

Thank You, Jesus, for the joy Your Word brings.

“I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete” (John 15:11).