God has given us a great promise - "my word that goes out from my mouth ... will not return to me empty" (Isaiah 55:11).
When we feel that God's Word is returning to us empty, we have this
Word of encouragement: God's Word will not return to Him empty. God
gives us His great promise "my word ... will accomplish what I desire
and achieve the purpose for which I sent it." We do not see all that
God's Word is doing as the Spirit of God brings Christ to the people.
God sees the full impact of His Word. That is why He says that His Word
will not return to Him empty. When we have preached the Word, we must
say, with the hymnwriter, "I know not how the Spirit moves, convincing
men of sin; revealing Jesus through the word, creating faith in Him." We
don't understand all that God is doing as His Word is preached. We do
know that He is at work. How do we know this? - We know Him - "I know
whom I have believed." We know that we can trust His promise - His Word
will achieve the purpose for which He sends it. When the "seed" of God's
Word is sown in the hearts of men and women, it will "sprout and grow" -
even if we are barely aware of all that is happening. The salvation of
sinners - it may be beyond our understanding, but it's not beyond God's
power: "the gospel ... is the power of God that brings salvation to
everyone who believes" (Romans 1:16).
"Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord , the people whom he has chosen as his heritage!" (Psalm 33:12). Chosen by God, chosen to be blessed by him - the Lord has reached out to us and claimed us for himself. The Lord is our God. We are his people. The Lord has done great things for us. Let us give all the glory to him. God is "holy" (Psalm 33:21). God is "love" (Psalm 33:22). When you're thinking about God's love, don't forget that he is holy. When you're thinking about God's holiness, remember that He loves you.
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