Today's Daily Encounter Thursday, July 25, 2024

Today's Daily Encounter Thursday, July 25, 2024

The Power of God's Word

"All scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work."1

On October 7, 1857, C. H. Spurgeon preached to his largest audience ever, some 23, 654 assembled in the mammoth Crystal Palace for a national day of fasting and prayer. A few days before the event Spurgeon had gone to the huge hall to test the acoustics. Stepping into the pulpit, he lifted his voice like a silver trumpet and proclaimed:

"Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Then Spurgeon repeated the one verse again: "Behold the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!"

Satisfied with the acoustics, he left and went his way.

Unknown to him, there were two men working in the rafters of that large auditorium, neither one Christians. One of the men was pricked in his conscience by the verse Spurgeon quoted and became a believer later that day! Such is the penetrating power of God's eternal word!

It's no wonder that Paul is so insistent on our "preaching the Word." In 2 Timothy 4:2 he gives us the charge to "Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke, and encourage – with great patience and careful instruction." In this case, preaching the word doesn't only apply to preachers, but also to every follower of Christ. We are to study God's word and apply it to our lives, so that we can be ready to share it with others whenever we have the opportunity. This doesn't mean we have to be constantly "preaching at people" with our words, but it does mean that we should be living out the Word of God wherever we go. We never know who will be listening (or watching) or when it is God's time for them to find salvation, but our job is to be faithful, consistently share, and trust that God's word is powerful to do what it needs to do in our lives and in the lives of others.

Suggested prayer: Dear God, thank you for your Word and its power. Thank you also for your Holy Spirit who lives within me. I ask that you help me be a doer of your word, so that I can consistently share your Word with others, not only with my words but with my life in general. I pray that you would use me to reach the people who need to hear your Word today. Thank you for hearing and answering my prayer. In Jesus' name, amen.
 

    2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NIV).

Today's Encounter was written by: Crystal B.

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