The Word - part 3

In the past two blogs we have examined how the Word of God is like a fire, a hammer and seed. Today we will look at two more symbols of God’s precious Word.

THE WORD IS LIKE A LAMP.

Have you ever walked into a dark room and not been able to find the light? More than once I have tripped, stumbled, hit my hand, or stubbed my toe trying to locate a light switch. Eventually when the light switch is found, the room is easy to move around in. The light makes maneuvering easy. The Word of God does the same thing. The Word functioning as a lamp or light helps guide our path.

Psalm 119: 105 (NKJV) Your Word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. 

Psalm 132: 17 (NKJV) There I will make the horn of David grow; I will prepare a lamp for my anointed. 

In the Word are Scriptures that illuminate our path for such things as parenting, marriage, operating in God’s gifts, walking in integrity, counseling, finances, or really anything we face in life. For example, if you have questions on tithing, these verses from Malachi 3: 8-10 (NKJV) can start you on the road to blessing.         

8 Will a man rob God? Yet you have robbed Me! But you say in what way have we robbed You? In tithes and offerings. 9 You are cursed with a curse, for you have robbed Me, even this whole nation. 10 Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this, says the Lord of hosts, if I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. 

As another example, if you are overindulging in activities, Proverbs 17: 1 (NKJV) can help you set your priorities straight. “Better is a dry morsel with quietness, than a house full of feasting with strife.”  It is better to be involved in less than more according to the light given by this Word. 

If your home is struggling with strife and contention, James 3: 16-17 (NKJV) can help you understand the forces at work. "16 For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. 17 But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy."

When a light is turned on, it not only reveals what is in the room, but in the nighttime, it can attract all kinds of bugs. You can see the little critters against the light. Light exposes them just like the Word exposes the hidden things of our heart. David said in Psalm 139: 23-24 (NKJV),  "23 Search me O God, and know my heart. Try me and know my anxieties: 24 and see if there is any wicked way in me and lead me in the way everlasting." Let’s keep the light of God’s Word shining continually in our hearts so that we live pure, holy, “bug free” lives!

In the East in ancient times, the household lamps were kept lit continually. The ancients saw light as holy and therefore, they associated light with God. The lamp was to stay on and be available to see at all times. Jesus told us that in the end times there would be ten virgins, but only five would have oil in their lamps. Only five would still have the Spirit and the Word ready for Him.

Proverbs 13: 9 (NKJV) says, “The light of the righteous rejoices, but the lamp of the wicked will be put out.” 

Mothers of Nations, we must endeavor to stay in the Word of God to keep our light shining brightly and continuously.

THE WORD IS LIKE A MIRROR.

Before we conclude today’s blog entry, let’s briefly look at another symbol of God’s Word:  the Word is like a mirror. 

We read in James 1: 23 (NKJV):  "For if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror." A mirror has the ability to reflect our image. Sometimes we like what we see, and then there are times we really do not enjoy what is reflected. The mirror shows us what we look like to others.

Do you remember the fairy tale of Snow White? In that story the wicked woman looked into a mirror and said, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall. Who is the fairest of them all?”  The mirror, not being able to lie, said it was not her! The mirror revealed the truth and that was not what the wicked woman wanted to hear.

God’s Word, like a mirror, has a way of reflecting spiritual truth back to us. We can be reading the Word and all of a sudden, we realize we need to repent or forgive someone. The Scriptures, under the influence of the Holy Spirit, open up to us and expose our sin.

There are times when the Word will reveal God’s plan or expose the devil’s scheme in advance. Therefore it is vitally important that you and I are continuously looking into the Word, or the mirror, and allowing it to reveal to us what needs changing and what needs transforming in our lives.

Mothers of Nations, as we close today, please take some time to think about one or two instances where God’s Word has guided you as a LIGHT and as a MIRROR. May you be blessed beyond measure. 

Dr. Sharon Predovich