Jonah 3:5-6
5 So the people of Nineveh believed God, proclaimed a fast, and put on sackcloth, from the greatest to the least of them. 6 Then word came to the king of Nineveh; and he arose from his throne and laid aside his robe, covered himself with sackcloth and sat in ashes.
The people of Nineveh were wicked people who did not worship the one true God. You would have expected that they would not give ear to the word of God from Jonah, but they did. Not only did they hear the word, they went into fasting, and they turned from their evil ways. This tells me that they knew what they were doing was evil.
Hebrews 4:12
12 For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.
We may assume that because someone is so evil in their lifestyle that preaching the word of God would be to no avail, but would be a false assumption. The word of God is not like any other word, it is spirit and it is life. In fact, faith comes by hearing the word of God. This is why it is important for us to keep preaching the word even when it seems like people are not listening and responding to it.
The word of God is a seed and when it lands in the heart of man, it has the capacity to take root and grow, producing fruit that brings about change in man’s life. This is why when you read the parable of the sower, you will notice that the enemy is focused on one thing, and that is to steal the word. If he cannot steal it, then he will ensure that he chokes it so that it does not grow or bear fruit.
The enemy knows the power of the word of God, and he will do anything he can to ensure we do not preach it. May we arise and preach the word to whichever individual or community that God leads us to.
Reflections
- How has the word of God changed your life?
- How often do you preach the word of God to others?
- Who is that one person in your circles that you can share the word of God with today?
