An impact wrench is a tool that operates on air pressure and is most often found in large automotive shops.  For that tool to function properly it must come into contact with the bolt or nut to be tightened or loosened.  The same thing is true concerning the word of God.  For it to impact us and our lives we must come into contact with it!

In Nehemiah chapter 8, we see the people of God following up on the rebuilding of the walls of Jerusalem with an overt act of service to God.  Their response was to approach Ezra, the priest and scribe, and tell him to read to them the words of the Law that had been handed down to Moses from God.  There were many periods of time when the word of God was not foremost in the minds of God’s children, even times when it had been discarded like yesterday’s newspaper.  Now we have recorded for our learning, an attitude that shows how God’s people truly will appreciate and respect the Word of God.

How does it impact us?  In this section of scripture we see that the people responded by being very sorrowful.  They realized the gravity of their sins as well as the sins of their fathers.  God’s people had rebelled against Him and they knew it and were grieved.  Both Ezra and Nehemiah exhorted the people to not mourn, but to rejoice in this holy day.  Jesus tells us much the same thing when He said “Blessed are those who mourn for they shall be comforted.”

The people were impacted so much so that they sought out more in God’s word and upon finding things instructed of them by God they immediately set about doing those things.  Friends, that is what the word of God can do for us, but only if we will let it.  We must be in contact with the word in study and in meditation, truly searching for our lives to be impacted.  Too many today get their “word of God” in small morsels or maybe only in one’s interpretation.  “Let the Word of Christ dwell within you richly…” and then watch how your life can be impacted!

Copyright © 2004, Nolan P. Rutter