Brothers and sisters, the reading of God’s word is the very voice of God. It is no secret that the modern church has abandoned the importance of the public reading and hearing the word of God. This is one of the central reasons for a biblically illiterate evangelical population. Some will say that the reading of the Scriptures belongs in a private setting, but the Bible will not allow you to keep the public reading away from the congregation. ‘The Spirit uses the oral reading and preaching combined with the congregation’s hearing of the Word in the church to bring life to His people.”[1] The Bible calls us again and again to hear the word of the Lord. It is in hearing the word that we become formed by the word.
This is why our Scripture readings are all framed around a central theme. They come from both covenants, so the people of God can hear the whole counsel of God as one united message proclaiming the glories of the Triune God in every page. My exhortation to you is to hear the Word attentively, respectfully, and joyfully.
When we have whole-heartedly received the word, the minister says “This is the Word of the Lord, and our only response is one of gratitude, and so we answer: Thanks be to God!
Prayer: Our God, your word is truth. May it shape us to become more and more like the Word made flesh, Jesus Christ in whose Name we pray, Amen.
[1] Meyers, 199.
