The Powerful Force of Water can Make Even the Sharpest Stones Smooth

Water has a powerful effect on stones.  As it flows over rocks it smooths and shapes them into precious little stones.

Erosion from water can carve deep grooves into the landscape of our hearts just like the word of God, but just like the beaver, we try to set up areas in our hearts to prevent the forceful effect of the word of God on our minds and hearts.

Often we think our lives are open and willing to yield to the waves of the Spirit and the powerful force of conviction in our lives.

We would much rather wade in the warm estuaries of our deception where silt and debris collect and the water is lifeless.

But God desires that we enter into the waters of His word with total abandon.

The water in Lake Michigan has been cold this week, hostile to my flesh.  I find myself inching my way in instead of diving headlong.

How often do we proceed gingerly through His word running back to the shore of our comfort when it does not feel good to our flesh.

As we come to Him in the water of His word, we will not be left to sink like Peter as long as we keep our eyes focused on Jesus.  When we read the word let us look for Him instead of reading from a mindset of our own circumstances.

I am not saying that God does not speak to us in our circumstances but the more we see Jesus through His word the more we understand His redemptive plan for our lives in the grand scheme of His story.

I Peter 2:4-6 says

As you come to him, a living stone rejected by men but in the sight of God chosen and precious, you yourselves like living stones are being built up as a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.  For it stands in scripture: "Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone, a cornerstone chosen and precious, and whoever believes in him will not be put to shame"

As we come to Jesus we are being built up as a spiritual house so that we can offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God because of Jesus.  We will not be put to shame when we follow Him into the sea of His word.

No matter how foreboding it seems, His word is where we must swim!  No matter how offensive it is to our flesh, we must enter into the current of His thought.

I Peter continues ...

So the honor is for you who believe, but for those who do not believe, "The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone," and "A stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense."  They stumble because they disobey the word, as they were destined to do.

Jesus encourages us in Matthew 11

"... And blessed is the one who is not offended by me."

We are called to be His people like living stones, tumbled about in the water of the word, being conformed into His image.

I just love I Peter....

1:20-25

He (Jesus) was foreknown before the foundation 

of the world but was made manifest in the last times 

for the sake of YOU who through him are believers in God,

who raised him from the dead and gave him glory, 

so that YOUR faith and hope are in God.  

Having purified your souls by your obedience to the truth 

for a sincere brotherly love, love one another earnestly from a pure heart, 

since you have been born again, not of perishable seed but of imperishable, through the living and abiding word of God; for 

" All flesh is like grass and all its glory like the flower of grass.  The grass withers and the flower falls, but the word of the Lord remains forever."

And this word is the good news that was preached to you.  

Obey the word!  Love your brothers and sisters in Christ, pray for a pure heart to do so and abide in His word! 

O Father, help us!  We know that You will!  Give us a tenacious spirit that runs after you into the brisk waters of Your word seeking to find Jesus the author and finisher of our faith, so that we can know You and love you more and in turn love your people!  We don't want our lives to fade away without making an impact on the culture!  We want to rock the boat of our world with the truth of Your word played out in a beautiful symphony of Christ so that many would follow hard after Him when they see us walking on the water!  Help us to allow the force of Your word to shape us into precious stones that house Your indwelling Spirit, the Shekinah glory of God so that all nations will know at we are indeed the people of God!

Psalm 119 is all about the Word of God.  I would encourage you to read it and see the treasury of promises stored in the word of God!

Also this article about the life-giving power of the Word is a very encouraging place to start if you have been lack luster in your Bible reading.

Lord, let the activity of Your word on my heart smooth my sharp edges!