Today’s devotion comes from 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10.
“You also became imitators of us and of the Lord, having received the word in much tribulation with the joy of the Holy Spirit, so that you became an example to all the believers in Macedonia and in Achaia. For the word of the Lord has sounded forth from you, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place your faith toward God has gone forth, so that we have no need to say anything. For they themselves report about us what kind of a reception we had with you, and how you turned to God from idols to serve a living and true God, and to wait for His Son from heaven, whom He raised from the dead, that is Jesus, who rescues us from the wrath to come.” 1 Thessalonians 1:6-10.
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The word of the Lord went forth from the Lord to Paul to the Thessalonians to those in Macedonia and Achaia to others. In a sense, the word of the Lord echoed through them all like a sound may bounce off one canyon wall to another and then to another.
But, the word of the Lord did not just randomly bounce around. God sent forth His word to exactly accomplish all that He desired.
“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11.
And do not return there without watering the earth
And making it bear and sprout,
And furnishing seed to the sower and bread to the eater;
So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth;
It will not return to Me empty,
Without accomplishing what I desire,
And without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11.
Psalm 147:15
“He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.”
“He sends forth His command to the earth; His word runs very swiftly.”
Isaiah 2:3
“And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:2 is very similar.)
“And many peoples will come and say, “Come, let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; That He may teach us concerning His ways And that we may walk in His paths.” For the law will go forth from Zion And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem.” (Micah 4:2 is very similar.)
Isaiah 45:23
“I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.”
“I have sworn by Myself, The word has gone forth from My mouth in righteousness And will not turn back, That to Me every knee will bow, every tongue will swear allegiance.”
James 1:18
“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”
“In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures.”
Thus, when we preach, teach, or even just share a verse, God’s Word does not only affect those who directly hear it from us, but God’s Word bounces around to others in the exercise of His will to accomplish exactly all that God desires. “Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O LORD God of hosts.” Jeremiah 15:16
Reformed Doctrine Daily Devotions 