the life-changing word of god
"Permanence is Your word's chief trait." —Psalm 119:160
Jesus completely and permanently transformed my life by one perfectly timed Scripture passage, Matthew 5:15-16. For St. Augustine, a worldly man steeped in sin, it was a random reading of Romans 13:13-14 that pierced his heart and led to repentance, conversion, and holiness. St. Francis realized that he was called to become a traveling preacher after hearing Luke 9:3-5 proclaimed. After a period of not knowing the specific direction for her life, St. Therese the Little Flower realized clearly after reading 1 Corinthians 13 that her vocation was love.
Our own words and ideas don't endure in the tortured, hurting hearts of people (Jer 17:9). Only God's words are living and effective, able to permanently penetrate the hearts of men and women (Heb 4:12). The word of God is permanent (Ps 119:160). Once heard, it reverberates in the lives of those who seem deaf to Him. Faith comes through hearing the word of God (Rm 10:17). Thus, we must constantly sow His word in "any and every way" (Phil 1:18). "There is no chaining the word of God" (2 Tm 2:9). Even the most hardened person can't compete with the permanence of God's word sown into their heart, because God's word is like a hammer pounding away at their stony heart (see Jer 23:29; 20:9).
Feed God's sheep with His "all-healing word" (Wis 16:12; Jn 21:15). Sow His word constantly (2 Tm 4:2). Let the word of God burn permanently in the hearts of all who hear (Lk 24:32).
Prayer: Father, may I spend my life faithfully dispensing Your word, whether convenient or not (Mt 24:45; 2 Tm 4:2).
Promise: "All Scripture is inspired of God and is useful for teaching." —2 Tm 3:16
Praise: It took a violent, near-death experience to transform St. Norbert from his worldly ways to one devoted totally and exclusively to God.
Reference: (This teaching was submitted by a member of our editorial team.)
Rescript: †Reverend Joseph R. Binzer, Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Cincinnati, January 4, 2008
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