The Word is Proclaimed!

Scripture Reading — Isaiah 55:6-13

“My word . . . will not return to me empty, but will . . . achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”
— Isaiah 55:11

On this day of worship let’s return to the words of Isaiah 55 and reflect on the power of the preached Word of God.

Human communication is often filled with mistakes and misunderstandings. We are imperfect people who communicate in many imperfect ways. Sometimes the results can be hurtful, and sometimes the results can be humorous.

I once suffered a sports injury and was unable to preach in my church on the following Sunday. Before the worship service, an elder explained to the congregation that I had been “hit with a ball in the eye.” I found out later that one of the young people at church had misunderstood him and thought I had been “hit with a ball and died.” She was shocked. She also thought that the congregation didn’t show much concern over my sudden demise.

One of the traditional marks of the church is the preaching of the Word of God. This week let’s focus on what it means for the gospel to ring out to the world. Faithful preaching is a vital piece of that task. In Isaiah 55, God reminds us that his communication is always effective. It will accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which he sent it.

This is profoundly reassuring. As we gather today for worship, let’s pray that God’s Word will be spoken clearly, with love, power, and grace.

Holy God, may your Word be preached faithfully in your church around the world today. And may your Word achieve the purpose for which you have sent it in our lives. Amen.

Written by: Kevin DeRaaf