A Life Rooted in the Word
Tara Beth found herself in a difficult place. As the first female pastor of First Church of the Nazarene in Pasadena, California, she faced both excitement and resistance. While some embraced her leadership, others staged a protest. She was like a tree planted on rocky ground—struggling but steadfast.
Have you ever been in a difficult place? Are you facing challenges right now?
Over the past month, we have been focusing on personal growth and development as disciples of Jesus Christ. Through images of life thriving in unexpected places—corn stalks growing in gravel, flowers blooming in sidewalk cracks, and trees rooted in rocky terrain—we’ve seen that abiding in Christ allows us to grow and flourish despite hardship.
The world can be a hostile place for followers of Jesus. Systems designed to uplift the strong while oppressing the weak challenge our values and faith. If we are not careful, we can become rooted in worldly systems rather than in Christ. Just as plants need air, water, and sunlight, we need spiritual nourishment to grow. Our source of life is Jesus, and the practices of our faith—prayer, holiness, and immersion in God’s Word—connect us to Him.
The Word in the Life of Jesus
In Luke 4, we see Jesus, full of the Holy Spirit, enter the wilderness for 40 days. There, He overcomes temptation by standing firm in faith and relying on the Word of God. Afterward, He returns to Galilee and begins His ministry, teaching in synagogues where He is praised.
When He returns to His hometown of Nazareth, He enters the synagogue and reads from Isaiah:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19, NIV)
Jesus boldly proclaims that He is the fulfillment of this prophecy. The very people who had known Him since childhood are shocked. They had prayed for the coming Messiah, but when He stood before them, they refused to believe. Their shock turned to rage, and they attempted to throw Him off a cliff.
Yet, Jesus did not allow their resistance to stop Him. He continued to proclaim the good news, pointing people to the truth of God’s Word.
Abiding in the Word
God reveals Himself to us in three central ways:
- The Written Word (The Bible) – The sacred scriptures, inspired by God, tell the story of His creation, redemption, and sustaining love.
- The Living Word (Jesus Christ) – Jesus is God’s fullest revelation of Himself. As John 1:1 states, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
- The Spoken Word (The Gospel & Our Testimony) – Through proclaiming the Gospel and sharing our faith, we invite others into a relationship with God.
God’s Word is meant to transform us, not just to inform us. When we approach Scripture, we should not only seek knowledge but also encounter Jesus. The Bible is not merely a textbook—it is an invitation into a deeper relationship with Christ.
Living a Word-Centered Life
How do you engage with the Word of God?
- Do you read it for historical knowledge?
- Do you approach it as a textbook?
- Or do you seek to encounter Jesus through it?
A Word-centered life means making Scripture a priority—not for the sake of knowledge alone, but to know God more deeply and to allow His Word to shape our hearts and minds. When we immerse ourselves in the Word, we create space for the Holy Spirit to transform us.
Testimonies of Transformation
Tara Beth shared her testimony at a conference I attended. As a teenager, she noticed a joy in her Christian friends that she lacked. One night, she opened a Bible and began reading the Gospel of Matthew. She read all night, praying, “God, if You are real, show me.” In the written Word, she encountered the Living Word—Jesus became real to her, and she put her faith in Him. Later, as a pastor, it was her deep roots in Scripture that sustained her through challenges.
Another woman who was new to our church experienced a similar transformation. She initially came to make friends, but during a service where we invited people to touch the baptismal water, she felt God’s presence for the first time. Encouraged to read the Bible, she began the Gospel of Matthew. The next week, she shared her excitement: “I can’t believe how great Jesus is! I was cheering for Him and booing the Pharisees!” Through Scripture, she encountered Jesus and began sharing the Gospel with others.
Your Invitation to the Word
Are you ready to step into the adventure of knowing God more deeply? This week, consider these practices:
- Memorize a passage of Scripture.
- Read a short book of the Bible out loud.
- Meditate on a passage about Jesus.
- Share your testimony with someone.
- Proclaim the Gospel through your words and actions.
Like a tree planted in rocky ground, you can thrive when you are rooted in the Word of God. Open the Bible, encounter Jesus, and step into the adventure of a Word-centered life!
