According to Your Word

Mary was told by the angel Gabriel that she, a virgin, would bear a child. The power of God would come upon her and she would give birth to the Son of God. Mary replied to the angel, “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). She didn’t understand, but trusted the messenger with the word he brought, and received it as from God.

A word direct from God is surely to be trusted. But how about us, who are encouraged to hear the word of God, and obey it? (Luke 11:28). Do we have a messenger direct from the throne room? How do we know when God is speaking to us? It might easily be our imagination, or our hopes or dreams. We may read a scripture from the Bible and take hold of it in faith believing it to be from God. But is this really the word of God for us at this time?

‘By the word of the Lord the heavens were made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth’ (Psalm 33:6). God spoke the universe into being with the words, “Let there be ...” These words were the power that set everything in place. God’s word went forth ... and there was.

Jesus too, as part of the Godhead, long before His incarnation, was at the Father’s side when the heavens and the earth were established. ‘I was there when he set the heavens in place, when he marked out the horizon on the face of the deep’ (Proverbs 8:27). ‘In the beginning was the word ... and the word was God. (John 1:1). ‘And this word became flesh and dwelt among us’ (John 1:14). Jesus, the word of God became a man.

He said to his disciples, “I will ask the Father, and he will give you another advocate to help you and be with you forever— the Spirit of truth” (John 14:16-17). This was the promised Holy Spirit. “He will guide you into all truth” (John 16:13).

As we read Scripture we’re reading truth. From it we can learn His principles and apply them to our life. ‘the word of God is alive and active’ (Hebrews 4:12). It’s not the dusty words of ancient manuscripts, but the Spirit of God, speaking to our spirit. And as we read the word of God, the living Word, Jesus, brings it to life, and the Spirit of truth conveys it directly into our hearts.

After their encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus the disciples said to one another, ‘Did not our heats burn within us ... while He opened the scriptures to us?’ (Luke 24:32).

When our hearts respond to the Word of God in this way, we’ll know. We’ll recognise the truth, then we can say with Mary, “Let it be to me according to your word.”

Prayer: Father, let Your word be a light to my path. Please give me sensitivity of spirit to recognise the truth and not be swayed by personal desires. There is only one way – Your way. Help me to keep to Your path, in Jesus’ name. Amen.