I was telling the kids a story last night, and I could make it as silly and ridiculous as I wanted, because it had no authority, no basis -- it was just a story, made up as it went along.
Scripture, however, is another matter -- we believe that it is the word of God, and it has power and authority. When we hear the word read and proclaimed, the Holy Spirit turns it into the actual word of God, no matter the ability of the preacher. The Holy Spirit is at work, and so we are charged to listen for what God has to say to us. Listening to the word of God carries a responsibility -- because if it is God that is speaking, that word should have an impact, right? Once you hear God speaking, that should do something to you. It should move you to act, to change, to obey, to worship.
Paul is celebrating the impact the word has had in Thessalonica. May the word impact us in the same way, that we go out and live as a people of the word, being fed by the word and led by the word!
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