Listen and Obey

When God speaks, God acts. The words of God do not come back empty and void. The words of God are performative; they enact and perform what they say. The word of God is the sword of the Spirit; it is sharper than any other two edged sword and it is able even to divide between the soul and the spirit and it discerns the thoughts and intents of the heart. When God says, ‘Let there be light,’ his words enact what they say, and light shines in the darkness. Likewise, when God heals, he says rise up and walk, and a paralyzed man is suddenly able to take up his bed and walk. The commands of God include the strength to obey them. There was nothing in the darkness waiting to become light. There was nothing in the paralytic just waiting to get up and walk. Lazarus had been dead for four days. There was nothing in the corpse of Lazarus waiting for Jesus’ words. When Jesus gives the command, life erupts in the corpse of Lazarus. When the word ‘light’ is spoken, light explodes from the black nothingness. When Christ bids the lame man walk, severed nerves and weak tendons and muscles bow before their Maker. Therefore, you are called upon to let the word of God dwell in you richly. Read the word of God in faith believing that God will teach you. Sing the word of God, sing the psalms with joy and thanksgiving, believing that the Spirit is reshaping you, remaking you. Listen to the word read and declared as though God is giving you light and life; because he is. And do not think that you need to prepare yourself to obey before listening to the word; rather listen to the word in order that you may obey. When God speaks, every atom in the universe obeys.