The heavens declare the glory of God… Day after day they pour forth speech. Psalm 19:1-2 (NIV)

God speaks to us in words and pictures.

God speaks to us visually in the creation
God’s eternal power is clearly seen from what He has made (Rom. 1:20). The creation tells me that God is powerful, but it cannot tell me that He loves me. I cannot tell from looking at the mountains that He sent His Son to die for me, or that He rose from the dead, or that He is coming back in glory to judge the living and the dead. For that we need words.

God speaks to us verbally in the Scriptures
John Calvin said that the Bible is like a pair of spectacles. The creation tells us something about God. But when we read the Bible, it is like putting on glasses.

God’s words are powerful. We saw that the way you were born again was through “the living and enduring word of God” (1 Pet. 1:23). New birth happens when the living seed of the Word of God is planted in your soul and watered by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Some people are like hard ground. The hard ground needs to be broken up. That happens as Christians act redemptively and pray effectively. But when the ground is opened up there must come a time when the living seed of the Word of God is sown. Peter says, “When that time comes, make sure that you are ready.”

Are you ready?