(February 19, 2022) Maureen McQuillan responds to a friend who’s feeling concerned…

Dear Pastor Maureen

I have a problem, something that is really troubling me. I’ve been a Christian for many years now and still read my Bible every day. But for weeks now, I no longer feel passionate about reading it and feeling I’m getting nothing out of it, that nothing is ‘going into me’ as if were. Yours, Henrick.

Dear Henrick

That’s a strong word you’ve used… passionate. It actually means to have very strong feelings or emotions. And that’s how you want to be feeling about God’s word as you read it but that you’re not.  Right? I’ll endeavour to help here.

Yes, one of the devil’s tricks is to have us stop reading God’s word… but let’s not think too much about that. I remember you, Hendrick, and that you love God’s word! You’ve been reading it for many years… so it’s already in your heart – and lively!

Let me go straight to the point and ask this question: Whose word have been reading?’ Why, God’s of course! Therefore even if you think nothing is ‘going in’ and that you don’t feel ‘emotional’ at times, the fact remains that it’s His word and alive! That means something must be going that’ll come back to you later. Why? Because, I repeat, it’s His word… and God’s word is life!

I remind you of Isaiah 55:8-11, ‘As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.’

Did you note what I emphasised? The old KJV uses the wording ‘it shall not return unto me void.’ Void is rêyqâm, meaning emptily, ineffectually, undeservedly.

It’s His word… we may fail it, even forget it at times – but it will never fail us, just as the author won’t! I like how the Message puts it this passage… ‘The words that come out of my mouth not come back empty-handed. They’ll do the work I sent them to do, they’ll complete the assignment I gave them.’

So, that being the case I’m confident that as you read even a short passage, it is accomplishing, completing God’s assignment. No doubt you’ve already been in some situation where you needed a word of encouragement and you’ll recalled a verse from God’s word that blessed you and help bring you through.

Robert shared this month (Divine,not Faith,Healing) how a scripture came back to him very strongly when he lost his voice one Friday. The ‘passion’ aspect came about as he kept repeating that word all night. Come Saturday he was healed and ready to speak at the camp.

That’s how powerful God’s word is… whether we use the term ‘feeling passionate about it’ or exclaim a ‘Yippee’ or not as we read doesn’t matter, Hendrick.

Actually, I guess that after reading the Bible for many years, particularly familiar favourite passages, it might seem that nothing new is ‘going in’… but something is as it’s His word and accomplishes much in the mind and heart!

Let me give my own simple example: A couple of nights ago I felt to reread Mark. I immediately thought, ‘But I’m so familiar with that short gospel.’ But… I only got as far as verse 7b: ‘the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.’

Oh, I became passionate afresh for God’s word! Especially as I recalled Robert’s article above! Like John, I too am unworthy to untie Jesus’ thongs, but how my Lord had stooped down to heal me, a little child! I didn’t got further than verse!

That’s how it works, Hendrick… keep on reading and things will ‘click’ afresh with you too. Be blessed.

__________________________________________
Got a question for either Pr Maureen or Dr Robert McQuillan? Email to OnlinerConnect@gmail.com
__________________________________________