Every July in Pamplona, 200 to 300 people go to the hospital for contusions and falling injuries. It is the famous “running of the bulls.”
How would it be to stand in that narrow Spanish street, seeing the stampede come at you? There are only two choices: you hide, or you join.
That’s what God’s word is like to us. Hebrews 4:12 calls it a double-edged sword, quick and powerful.
As Christians, we face a choice: will we dodge the oncoming force of the character of God? Will we miss the whole frightening thing, or will we choose to place ourselves directly in its path?
Those who dare should be warned:
- It will overtake you.
- It will pull you in.
- It will crush you.
- It will move you.
You’re reading this because you want a greater love for God—a greater ability to see God’s goodness and to trust it.
I have some news: the way isn’t pretty. Like the brave runners in Pamplona, those who run with God’s word will be bruised. But it will be glorious.
It’s the way of blessing. Psalm 119:1 says “Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord. Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.”
I’m seeking that blessed life. To gain it, I’m willing to run with the God of Scripture. Like the Psalmist, I want to look at God’s word—even where it demands my all—and see it as a blessing.
The purpose of this post is to convince you one thing: You love God more when you see His word changing you.
God’s word overtakes you and cleanses you.
Once we believe the truth about Jesus, we are actually changed by that truth!
Jesus said, “Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you. Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me” (John 15:3-4).
God’s word pulls you in and grows you.
Learning God’s deeds and ways is actually compared to food. It is that important, because it is the way to know God’s goodness.
“As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby: If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious” (1 Peter 2:2-3).
God’s word crushes you and corrects you.
Whether you are in the world or in the church, God is calling you to repentance still. The Holy Spirit reproves the world “of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment” (John 16:8).
And Jesus himself speaks to the churches about how they must change:
“As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent. Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith unto the churches” (Revelation 3:19-22).
God’s word moves you and guides you.
We need to pay attention to what Jesus promised: the Holy Spirit will guide us into all truth. That’s the promise to those who obey his voice.
“Howbeit when he, the Spirit of truth, is come, he will guide you into all truth: for he shall not speak of himself; but whatsoever he shall hear, that shall he speak: and he will shew you things to come” (John 16:13).
When God overtakes you, pulls you in, crushes you, and moves you, it will be by His word.
Then you will know the good He has for you. So let Him. It’s the way to life.
Have you experienced the Holy Spirit guiding you in truth, as Jesus promised? I would love to hear about your own experiences learning to place yourself in the path of God’s word.