The Power of God's Word

Nehemiah 8:1 all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. 2 Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. 3 He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. 5 And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. 6 Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.8 So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, "This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep." For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. 10 Then he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieved, for the joy of the Lord is your strength." (NRSV)

"I could not put down that book because it was talking to me! I had never heard a talking book!" That was a testimony I heard many years ago from a missionary from India. He was sharing the story of the Christian missionaries that risked their lives in coming to his village, a non-Christian one, to share God's Word with them. This missionary was a boy and his dad allowed the missionaries to come in a share their story. The boy picked up the Bible they had carried with them and before he knew it, that "book" talked him into a new relationship with God and later into a professional service as an evangelist. Another testimony I heard was a from an Ivy League graduate who thought his life's calling was to be a social worker. As he walked around the neighborhood to which he was assigned, he entered a church, something he had not done much and he met the minister who was there. The young man asked the pastor if he had any Bibles. The pastor gave him one and the young man took it home and stayed up most of that night reading it and heard God not only speaking to him and his life, but calling him into ordained ministry. In a day or so he had read the entire Bible and came to see the minister again. "I want to go to seminary, but I want to go to the best there is." The pastor told him that in his opinion, Harvard had the best, so off he went.

Yesterday we read about how God speaks through creation. Today we hear how God speaks through God's Word. The people of Israel in a setting where they once had everything, return to find all is gone. They found a copy of God's word and it was read to the people. They not only heard, they understood and received God's word. What may have once been taken for granted was now treasured. How would we react if one day all our Bibles were taken away? Would the outcry match that of other possessions we have, i.e., weapons, automobiles, etc? For the Israelites that day was once again holy and it was a call to action; to receive God's word and then to live it, sharing with those who did not have, to have faith and hope and not sorrow. The powerful verse ends the text, "The joy of the Lord is your strength."

As we close our devotional time, turn everything over to God, smile, rejoice and be happy in the Lord, for the joy of the Lord is our strength.

PRAYER: Loving God, may the words of this passage speak to me about the treasure we have in Your holy word. Let us receive it and live it. In Christ Jesus we pray, amen.

Have a great and blessed day in the Lord!

Eradio Valverde