Week 30—Thursday John 3:1-3
John 3:1-3
“TAKE HEED TO YOURSELF AND TO YOUR TEACHING”
The interest of people is in this Word become flesh. In one of our Ashrams a lady, stood empty-handed at our table and asked, “Does anyone want more coffee?” I replied, “No, thank you.” But when another woman came in with a coffee pot in her hand and asked, “Anyone want more coffee?” I replied, “Yes, thank you.” The difference? The first woman presented the word of coffee become word, the second the word of coffee become flesh! We have to see the reality, then we seek it. “One loving heart sets another afire.”
Paul emphasized this to the young minister, Timothy, “Take heed to yourself and to your teaching” (1 Tim. 4:16). Take heed to the Word become flesh and then the Word become word will be the Word become flesh too, for behind the word will be the Word become flesh. For what you are gets into what you say and puts a plus or minus to it. Two people can say the same thing—one falls on the soul dead, the other falls upon the soul with quickening, converting power. Why? Well, in one case it is the Word become word—dead truth; in the other case it is the Word become flesh—Spirit-quickened truth, hence, converting truth.
When Paul called the Ephesian elders he said, “Take heed to yourselves and to all the flock” (Acts 20:28). Note the order “to yourselves” and “to all the flock”—first yourselves that the Word become flesh in you, that you embody what you pass on to the body of believers.
Dr. Oscar Buck came out to India to spend a sabbatical year with me in evangelistic work. After two weeks he said, “I can teach theology, but this is demanding something of spiritual experience I haven’t got. I’m going out on the bank of the river and not come back till something happens.” A few hours later he came back, “I went out to get my gasoline tank filled but I come back with a new engine.” The Word had become flesh.
O Lord Christ, if my words have become words out of which the Word has dropped, come in, O Word, and make my words live again by your Presence. For without you I may have a body of truth but no soul of truth. In your name. Amen.
AFFIRMATION FOR THE DAY: I am the first and only Bible some people will ever read.