The Word of Life
by Richard Griffiths
At a beach called Sugar Sands on our beautiful Northumberland coast, below where the sea reaches it at high tide, there’s a hole that goes down into the rock. What’s extraordinary is that a constant flow of fresh water comes bubbling up out of it. Anywhere else, rain may wash the salt off the rocks at low tide, but as soon as the tide rises, they become salty again and they remain salty until it rains again. But not here. The rain stored underground in the fields above this spring flows constantly and washes away the salt.
Even when there’s been no rain, the spring keeps flowing from the underground store of water in the rocks and soil above.
In Isaiah, God likens His word to the rain: ‘As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth … so is my word that goes out from my mouth’ (Isaiah 55:10-11).
He wants us to receive His word and to allow it to penetrate deep into our inner being – first into our spirit, and then into our mind, will and emotions. He wants us to hide it, to treasure it, there. He wants what He has spoken into our hearts to cleanse, nourish and refresh us, and then to flow out from us, where it will do the same to others.
Today I want to hear and receive God’s word to me. I want it to cleanse all my thoughts and attitudes. I want it to nourish my spirit and my mind, and to shape my will so that it conforms to His. I want it to bring refreshment to every part of my being. But God doesn’t want it to stop there. I want what He’s said to me to bring the same blessings to others. I know that as I keep receiving from God’s word, the flow won’t ever fail and, even though it may have been stored up for a long time, as it flows from me, it will bring refreshment and restoration to others.
Jesus said, ‘The mouth speaks what the heart is full of’ (Matthew 12:34). Today, I want what I speak into the lives of others to be fresh with what God has spoken into my life. How about you?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for Your word. Thank You that, however You speak to me, Your word is life. Help me to treasure Your word; to value it and hold it in my spirit. And, as I talk to others today, may my words bring refreshment, encouragement and life to all who hear them. Amen.
Richard Griffiths When Richard retired from full-time Anglican ministry in Chichester in 2009, he and his wife, Sue, moved to Northumberland. He joined the ministry team at Ellel Grange in 2011, where he and Sue regularly ministered at healing retreats. They are now helping on the "Explore" team. They greatly enjoy walking in the beautiful Northumberland countryside and along the coast. Richard loves seeing God bringing people into a strong personal relationship with Him as their Father and the healing that comes with it.
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