If Jesus Used It, Then...
“We trust GOD in you...ROOTED IN THE WORD, and refined in community.”
Last week we walked through the idea of trusting GOD in each other. It wasn’t about trusting that others will do the right thing, but ultimately trusting that God is at work in them. This was my favorite 10000MINUTES practice last week: “Annoying people are there to reveal something about you and your heart.” TRUST GOD in them and that He’s doing something in you!
This week we are focusing on being Rooted In The Word. If it weren’t for this statement, then anyone could say anything they wanted to and call it the voice of God. I could say, I really feel like God is telling me to not forgive someone for what they’ve done to me, or I really feel like God is telling me to divorce my wife and go be with another woman. Without being rooted in the Word, we have no reference point for the heart of God.
When we hear, “Rooted in the Word”, most of us immediately think of the written word of God or the Scriptures/Bible and we are half right. The Word is JESUS. Jesus was not created, but always was (John 1). The point of the written word is Jesus and Jesus uses the written word (Bible) to make His points.
We need to be careful to not miss Jesus and worship the scriptures, like Jesus talks about in John 5:
39 You study[c] the Scriptures diligently because you think that in them you have eternal life.These are the very Scriptures that testify about me, 40 yet you refuse to come to me to have life.
And we need not throw out the power of the written word of God. It is powerful not in and of itself, but because the Scriptures point to the one who holds the power to transform dead things to life.
My practice this week is to be rooted in the Word all week long. This doesn’t necessarily mean, an hour long Quiet Time in the morning (which would be awesome by the way), but it means finding a way to keep Jesus and His written invitations in front of us all day long. I am going to keep saying, memorizing, and living out a few Scriptures:
Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me. (John 14)
Or
Walk in step with the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh. (Galatians 5)
Or
Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding. Rather in all of your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your path straight. (Proverbs 3)
Or
The Lord is my shepherd,
I lack no good thing.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside [b]quiet waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He guides me in the [c]paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake. (Psalm 23)
So our 10000MINUTES Practice is to make space in the rhythms of your day:
Stay Rooted in the WORD of God today. Or don’t and know that Jesus loves you either way!
EXTRA CREDIT THOUGHTS: The Bible was not written to you but for you. The letters to the Corinthians were written for them, but we get to learn what the heart of God was for them and apply it to our lives today. For example, there are so many references to Jesus as the Bread of Life. In that day, bread was the very sustenance that everyone would understand and relate to. Today, if you are gluten free or watching your carb intake, Jesus as the Bread of Life almost holds a negative connotation. The point we take from this idea of Jesus as the Bread of Life, simply put, is that He alone is our sustenance, our fulfillment, our energy source.
Text “10k” to “55678” if you want weekly text reminders to your phone. We’ll be sending out a few encouragements a week to help you practice Jesus all week long!