During a past staff enrichment time, Jim Kennedy, our former Chief Operating Officer, was sharing about the importance of memorizing God’s Word. Something he said immediately struck me as a “Victory Call” – He asked how we were impacted by our time in the Word. Were we like a pipe that water flows through – leaving the pipe relatively unchanged? That doesn’t sound like a profitable use of time or conducive of a meaningful, deep, abiding relationship with Christ.
What would be the alternative? When we spend time in the Word, we are spending time with HIM. It is not a reading exercise. As we spend time with HIM in the Word, HE is in the process of making us more like HIS Son.
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.” – John 17:17
So it seems to me that we need to be more like a sponge than a pipe. Think of a dry sponge shriveled and hard. Drip one drop of water on it and that spot swells. Pour water on it or submerge it in water and the entire sponge swells to hold as much water as possible. If it is saturated, the slightest pressure will cause it to drip.
Oh, Lord, I want to be like the sponge, so full of YOU and YOUR WORD that the slightest pressure will cause You and Your Word to flow out.
How about you? Are you more like a pipe or a sponge? For you and me to be sponges requires more than a quick read in Scriptures a few times a week. It necessitates tarrying with HIM in HIS WORD. I know in my life that will require saying no to other things to make room and time to tarry, to actually live as if I genuinely want to be a sponge.
Ask yourself, “Am I a pipe or a sponge?” and “What am I willing to do to be more of a sponge?”
Written by Diane Hunt: Diane serves on the board of America’s Keswick and is the Executive Director & CEO of Changed Choices, a Christian non-profit in North Carolina. She is also a biblical counselor and women’s event speaker. For more information about having Diane speak at your next event please contact her at dhunt@americaskeswick.org.
