Introduction
I am praying for saturation this weekend!
Let me explain what I mean. God has been giving us some much needed rain here in southern Minnesota. As I sit in my office today and watch the rain fall I can not help but remember the Scripture passage in which God describes His Word as rain that falls from heaven. Consider Isaiah 55:10-11: For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return there without watering the earth and making it produce and sprout, and providing seed to the sower and bread to the eater; so will My word be which goes out of My mouth; it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the purpose for which I sent it. This passage reminds us that God’s Word always accomplishes His intention. Just like rain and snow bring water to the earth with various benefits, so God’s Word always accomplishes what God has for it!
What stands out to me about this text is how it describes the massive chasm that exists between God and men. If you were to read the verses before this text, you would find some other familiar descriptions of the gulf between God and men. Consider verses 8-9: “For My thoughts are not your thoughts,
Nor are your ways My ways,” declares the Lord. “For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts.” These verses remind us of the holiness of God and the sinfulness of men. Even before these verses, we read the admonition for wicked men to forsake their ways and come to God, who alone is holy and righteous. But notice what spans this great division between God and men–God’s Word. God’s Word comes down from heaven to man and produces the desired effect God has for His Word, and it will not be unproductive in accomplishing God’s desire.
Final Thoughts
So what do I mean when I say that I am praying for saturation? I do not have in mind rain saturating the ground, as important as that is right now. I am praying for a saturation of God’s Word. I am asking God specifically for this weekend, but also in the weeks to come that He would use His Word to span the gap at our church between His holiness and our sinfulness–that God would be gracious in utilizing His powerful Word to do a work in our church and our people. I am praying that this weekend and beyond we would be saturated with God’s Word and that it will have God’s desired effect on our lives to make us forsake our ways and turn to Him! Will you pray with me?
