Camps. Mission experiences. Church conventions. Summer provides awesome opportunities for ministry and spiritual highpoints. During these experiences, our hearts are soft to the things of God, He has our undistracted attention, and we make deep commitments. Maybe we make a lifestyle change, renew a holy habit, stop a bad habit, or simply deepen our level of submission to God.
Then summer ends, and school activities begin again. Our zeal wears off, enthusiasm flat lines, and commitment fades.
It doesn’t have to be that way.
God has given us something that will not fade, wear off or flat line: His Word. However, Scripture is one of the most underused tools to help us convert spiritual highpoints into lifestyle change. Yet it seems to be a no-brainer to infuse our commitments—which are famous for fading—with God’s Word, which is guaranteed to endure. So, let’s try it.
The What
As you read the passages below, look for the following bits of information. To help soak up the detail, you may want to print out the passages and mark the information as you come across it.
1. Underline references to God’s word(s), commands or decrees.
2. Circle references to things that are fleeting or temporary.
3. Draw a box around references to things that are lasting and permanent.
“The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the Word of our God endures forever” (Isa. 40:8).
“Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away” (Matt. 24:35, Jesus speaking).
“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of Mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash” (Matt. 7:24-27, Jesus speaking after the spiritual highpoint of the Sermon on the Mount).
“The seed falling on rocky ground refers to someone who hears the Word and at once receives it with joy. But since they have no root, they last only a short time. When trouble or persecution comes because of the Word, they quickly fall away…But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the Word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matt. 13:20, 23, Jesus speaking, explaining the parable of the soils).
“Let me live that I may praise You, and may Your laws sustain me” (Ps. 119:175).
“Invigorate my soul so I can praise You well, use Your decrees to put iron in my soul” (Ps. 105:18, from The Message).
The So What
These passages show the real deal difference between fleeting and lasting—sand and grass vs. rock and iron. The difference, of course, is God’s Word. In the same way, our summertime commitments can be temporary, or they can be lasting. They can be nice, feel-good moments, or they can rearrange our lives and rock the world. The difference is God’s Word taking root in us. Renewed spiritual commitments made at camps and conventions result from God’s Spirit poking our hearts to convict us or call us. After saying yes to God’s poke, His Word keeps our hearts soft, which compels us to put our commitments into practice.
Consider this: The chance that our commitments will mature into life change is directly proportional to the intensity of our engagement in God’s Word.
Seal the Deal
The verses you just read give us some clues as to the type of intensity that will help us tap into the enduring, sustaining nature of God’s Word: Hear it, understand it, and put it into practice. When we apply those actions to God’s Word, we are promised a rock-solid foundation and will produce a crop exponentially greater than what was sown.
So, let’s use these three actions as a framework as The Message suggests to add some iron to our souls (Ps. 105:18).
Hear
1. Make sure you have a Bible version you understand (e.g., New International Version, English Standard Version, The Message).
2. Have a Bible you feel comfortable writing in and marking for study. Buy one just for this purpose if you’d like. Also, it might be time to graduate from a children’s Bible if you haven’t done so yet.
3. Keep some helpful tools handy with your Bible (e.g., journal, writing/marking utensils, a Bible app). The more senses you use in interacting with God’s Word, the better engaged you will be.
4. Schedule time to hear God’s Word—to spend time with it—but think, “Bible engagement” rather than “Bible reading.”
Understand
Bring to mind your recent spiritual commitments. Ponder how you can deepen and sustain these commitments by adding iron to your soul, infusing your commitments with God’s Word. You might want to try this: Write down any spiritual commitments you’ve made recently. These could be things such as renewed resolve, promises to start/quit something or to obey a specific command from Jesus. Spend time finding Bible passages that can help you with your commitment—insight, encouragement, promises. A topical Bible or online search tools could be a big help here. With just a little effort you may find a treasure trove of inspiration and support.
Put into Practice
It’s a common rhythm throughout the Bible: Hear and do. Hear His commands, and do His commands. Have them, and obey them. The proof is in the doing. If our commitments and Bible study don’t compel us to action—internal adjustments, external behavior, steps of obedience—then we have missed the point. Rather than lifelong change, our summer commitments will be just that—summer commitments.
