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REFLECTION

Welcoming the Word is the theme for our reflection. To welcome something or someone means to gladly receive the thing or the person in a desirable manner. The Word is God’s timeless instruction and message of Salvation upon which our faith and relationship with God dwell. Welcoming the Word, therefore, means gladly receiving and obeying God’s timeless instruction and message of Salvation (the Gospel). We shall discuss two issues, the consequences of not welcoming the Word and who is the Word we must welcome into our lives?

Dear friend, temptations, sin and death are the consequences or ramifications of not welcoming the Word into our lives. The Word of God gives life to those who welcome it into their lives. James wrote to admonish the Jewish Christians that “He (God) chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created” (James 1:18 ). God chose to give us birth through the Word of truth because formerly we were dead to sin. A person who has refused to welcome the Word is spiritually and morally dead. James makes this sharp contrast when he wrote that “each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.” (James 1:14-15). Beloved in the Lord, we observe through James’ admonishment that a person’s evil desires give birth to sin and death but a person who welcomes the Word of truth experiences a new birth, regeneration or a new life in Christ. Let us illustrate with the following examples of people who rejected the Word and their evil desires gave birth to sin and death. Adam, Eve and Judas are examples of people who willingly rejected or did not welcome the Word of God and their evil desires gave birth to sin and death. On the other hand, Zacchaeus and Paul welcomed the Word of truth into their lives and they experienced a new birth of Salvation and a life dedicated to God. Let us, therefore. “get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do” (James 1:21-25)

Who then is the Word we must welcome into our lives? It is important to note that Jesus is the Word therefore anyone who welcomes Jesus into his or her life will experience a new birth through the power of the Holy Spirit. John made us understand that “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through him all things were made; without him, nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. (John 1:1-4) Because Jesus is the Word of life, John again assures us that “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. (John 3:16-17). Jesus reaffirms the fact that He is the embodiment of God’s Word that gives life when He said “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you really know me, you will know my Father as well. From now on, you do know him and have seen him.” (John 14:6-7) Dear friend, let us eschew all forms of evil desires that give birth to sin and death. Let us willingly and decisively welcome Jesus into our lives and begin to study His Word and live according to His perfect examples, for He has promised us that “I am the gate; whoever enters through me will be saved. They will come in and go out, and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full. (John 10:9-10) Shalom. The decision is yours to make today, may you welcome Jesus Christ, the Word of God into your life today.

In summary, the theme for our reflection is “welcoming the Word.” We have discovered that rejecting God’s Word will enable our evil desires to give birth to sin and death but if we welcome the Word into our lives we shall experience regeneration and salvation. Again, Jesus is the Word therefore we must welcome Him into our lives. May the Holy Spirit empowers us to overcome our evil desires and welcome the Word wholly into our lives. Shalom.

PRAYER

Have you experienced a new spiritual and moral birth since you welcomed the Word of God into your life? What evil desires or addictions are preventing you from welcoming the Word into your life? Ask the Holy Spirit to help you to overcome the weakness and temptations in your life and to enable you to develop a habit of prayer and passion for the study of the Word daily.

“Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. I have taken an oath and confirmed it,
that I will follow your righteous laws.” Amen. (Psalms 119:105-106)