The Implanted Word of God

"Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your souls."
(James 1:21)

"...the implanted Word..."

I love the image these words create.

Close your eyes and visualize the Word of God as a seed implanted in your spirit by God Himself. Can you see it? Can you imagine the awesome hand of God reaching into your heart, stirring the soil within, then delicately yet powerfully - yes MIGHTILY! - planting His Word within you? Mind-boggling, isn't it?

Who is the Word of God? Yes, Jesus Christ, His only Son. All that Jesus is, all the power that raised Him from the dead, now dwells in you - the sinner saved by grace.

Can you see the implanted Word - the seed of life? It is yearning to come forth, straining to produce its fruit of righteousness. The implanted Word has purpose! God has purposed it to transform you and those around you. He has purposed it to make you more like Jesus through the renewing of your mind, through the power of the Holy Spirit. He has purposed it to take root in your soul and sprout goodness in your life.

The Lord Most High has purposed His implanted Word to make a dwelling place within you where His Holy Spirit can reign and rule and be Lord of your life.

The implanted Word.
Receive it with humility and thanksgiving.
Put aside the burden of sin and complacency towards the things of God.

And watch that fruit grow. My, oh my...

"For the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control." (Galatians 5:22,23)

Father, What a beautiful image you have given us. Help us to see this image in its entirety, in its incredible Truth. Help us to understand the the implanted Word cannot - it MUST not - lie dormant. We are called to be transformed into the image and likeness of Jesus so that we might take His Light into the dark crevices of a hurting world. Open our eyes that we might see, Lord, our ears that we might hear the cry of Your heart. Thank You for Your promise: "For its not by might, not by power but by My Spirit." Your Spirit, Lord. Your strength. Your power. Thank You, Father.