Six Streams of Living Waterਨਮੂਨਾ

A Word-Centered Life

The gospel (the good news) is God’s stunning message of hope and love to humanity: it is the message embodied in Jesus Himself, rooted in the Word of God, and ultimately expressed through the lives of those who follow Christ.

Knowing the gospel, living the gospel, and proclaiming the gospel are the foundations of a meaningful and fulfilling “Word-centered life.” This is Richard Foster’s third “stream” and the focal point of our reflections today.

As we read in today’s passage, God’s Word, as revealed in the Bible, is where true joy, hope, refreshment, wisdom, and light are all found.

Remembering the beauty and value of God’s Word is an important practice. We live in an age where the Bible comes with baggage. Sadly, Scripture has regularly been abused, misused, and weaponized, and, for many, this has resulted in God’s Word being relegated to life’s periphery or dismissed entirely, rather than taking center stage.

Today, we’re resisting this trend. Far from being some ancient, outdated, or irrelevant text, Scripture is “alive and active” (Hebrews 4:12), reaching into every area of our lives.

Theologian Nathan Foster writes: “The Bible has the potential to be an incredible gift to the human race, not something we worship as a rigid answer to all of life’s ills — rather it can lead us to worship, inviting us to live in the divine mystery and to implicate ourselves in the story. We are invited to follow and obey – a great joy for the living of our days.”

Pause to reflect. How can you give God’s Word center stage in your life today?

Prayer

Everlasting Father, help me to fall in love with Your Word again. Your law is perfect, Your statutes are trustworthy, Your precepts are right, and Your commands are radiant. Today, would You refresh my soul and fill my heart with joy as I seek to follow You? Lord, give me the strength to put Your Word into practice, making Your gospel the center of my life.

In Jesus’ name.
Amen.