“The Word” and Flourishing (Part 2)

So how do we allow or help the word to take root?

“Others, like seed sown on rocky places, hear the word and at once receive it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time.”

In the last post I suggested that the fruit Jesus talks about in the parable of the soils is about abundant living and not just rectified living. Only people who are becoming fully alive are going to attract their neighbors to life in God’s kingdom.

The Jews in Jesus’ day thought that the kingdom would come through violent judgment —  by scorching the wicked and toppling rulers from their thrones. Instead of coming as a political king or military leader, Jesus shows up as a traveling teacher speaking to large crowds and instructing his small group of students. He almost always speaks in parables – figures of speech and stories. While his words are for everyone, he tells his disciples, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you.” Is he whetting their appetite for what they’re about to hear? Is he putting them on alert that if they actually manage to live out his words, their lives and the entire world is about to change?

If they pay attention. If they take in “the word” and it actually bears fruit.

In today’s gospel reading Jesus says, “Consider carefully what you hear….With the measure you use it will be measured to you — and even more!”

Apparently a lot hinges on his disciples’ response. They can’t be taking this lightly. His teachings aren’t just sermons or spiritual talks. They’re doorways into the kingdom of God itself. And the disciples’ ability to grasp and live out Jesus’ life and teachings is how the kingdom will actually come.

So like I said, he needs us fully alive. His kingdom comes more through attraction than promotion. Words about the kingdom can only go so far without being demonstrated in real life and real lives.

Jesus begins the parable by saying, “Listen!” Let’s assume we’ve listened, that at least we’re not like the soil that was so hard the birds came and ate the seeds. We’ve heard the word, we’ve understood the word, we’ve received it with joy as the good news that it is.

Pause. But what is “the word?”

It’s as large as the entire gospel and as small as a single word like “Listen!” or “Love.” It’s whatever or however Jesus is speaking to us. It can be Scripture. It can be something in a sermon. It can be a sentence or paragraph in a book written by a non-Christian author or spoken by a non-Christian friend. Heck, it could be your enemy. Ultimately the word is Jesus himself (John 1:1). And the one who is over all and through all can speak through anything or anyone.

So be ready – all the time and everywhere. “The word” is that available, that powerful, that potentially life-changing and world changing.

Are you ready?

Most people weren’t and aren’t: “… they may be ever seeing but never perceiving, and ever hearing but never understanding; otherwise they might turn and be forgiven (Mark 4:12).

Jesus knew what it took. When fasting in the desert, Jesus was tempted by Satan to turn stones into bread. He replied, “People do not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

He knew how valuable the word was.

So we begin by acknowledging the word’s vital importance. “The word” is never just a lesson or insight or even scripture passage. It’s something “living and active” (Hebrews 4:12). It’s God hitting the bull’s-eye of our souls. It’s God issuing a command that will determine our next move at the front lines of his kingdom coming.

So we accept the gravity and often hilarity of the word. Turning the other cheek? Offering to carry a soldier’s gear a second mile? Forgiving people before they’ve even apologized?

Instead of giving us a new set of rules, Jesus is telling us to use our imaginations. So, for example, we imagine the implications of the word we’re hearing, including the challenges we’ll face. We hunger for concrete applications and ask the Lord to show us a relationship or situation where we can test the waters. This word, if it’s from God, will require the assistance of the Spirit’s presence and power, which we humbly acknowledge. We remember that in our weakness he is strong (2 Corinthians 12:10). We intend to rest in his love and allow his power to work through us. While his yoke is easy, we know what’s asked of us won’t be.

And whatever we do with the word, we’re likely to do it poorly. Get used to it. We’re students, not masters, at least not yet. We’re students of the impossible. Another way we value the word is by reflecting later on how we did. We thank God for what we did well and for what we learned about ourselves by falling short. We plead for more chances. We ask for clarification. We spend daily time in scripture because there’s a good chance it’s there we’ll get more direction. Whatever we do, we don’t give up on the word or on ourselves. We keep playing full out, with the confidence that God can even use our failures. He’s that good and that amazing, and his kingdom is that important.

One last suggestion. If there is a particular quality like humility or courage or faith that is the word you’re hearing, then imagine that quality filling you and putting down deep roots in your heart and soul.

I had a friend who lost his arm while using his radial saw. He told the surgeon to sew it back on. The surgeon said that would be stupid. My friend told him to do it anyway. Over the next several months Steve imagined the humerus and muscles and nerves of his lower arm reconnecting with his upper arm. And gradually he began to get feeling back, and his fingers started moving and he was able to use his arm — not completely, but enough to go back to doing construction.

So imagine the roots going deep in you. Imagine that the quality you’re wanting is part of you now. Encountering some rocks? Is your faith rubbing up against some doubts, your courage against some fear, your love against some irritability? Go around and go deeper. You’re not just faking it to make it. That quality is growing roots now, and you intend to live it fully for Jesus’ sake and in the power of his Spirit.

Be alive!