Word Without Effect

The other day I read Mark 7:1-13, a portion where Jesus rebuked the Pharisees for their hypocrisy in rejecting the commandments of God and teaching instead the traditions of men.  Having laid aside God's word, they found fault with followers of Jesus.  He declared in verse 13 they were guilty of "...making the word of God of no effect through your tradition which you have handed down. And many such things you do."  The implications of making God's Word of no effect are enormous, and this caused me to ask the question:  what are effectual benefits of God's Word?

In the Parable of the Sower, the Word of God is compared to good seed which will produce fruit in the lives of faithful followers of Christ.  This reveals substituting traditions for God's Word inhibits fruitfulness.  In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said those who hear His words and do them are likened to a man who builds his house on a rock which can endure any storm.  Without God's Word then our lives are without a secure or strong foundation.  Peter affirmed in John 6:68 that only Jesus has the words of eternal life.  Should the Word of God be rendered without effect it means eternal life cannot be obtained.  Psalm 119:105 says, "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path."  The consequence of making God's Word of no effect is to stumble aimlessly in the darkness.

Probably one of the most concise and descriptive passages of the effect of God's Word is found in 2 Timothy 3:14-17.  Paul exhorted Timothy, "But you must continue in the things which you have learned and been assured of, knowing from whom you have learned them, ¹⁵ and that from childhood you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, ¹⁷ that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work."  See the invaluable effects of God's Word:

• Provide teaching and assurance
• Able to make wise for salvation through faith in Christ
• Given by inspiration of God
• Profitable for doctrine, reproof, correction, for instruction in righteousness
• Provided so every disciple of Jesus may be complete and thoroughly equipped for every good work.

When we exchange the Word of God for man's ideas and traditions, we deny ourselves the truth and assurance God provides.  If God's Word has no effect, there is no hope of salvation!  We lose out on the teaching, reproof, correction, and instruction inspired by God!  If we reject the Word we will not mature or be equipped to do good.  What folly it is to put aside God's Word for the "wisdom" of man!  The Pharisees were deceived when they did this in Jesus' day, and there are many deceived today who make this same mistake.  Let us lay Paul's exhortation to Timothy to heart and hold fast to the Holy Scriptures.  Otherwise we reject the light and stumble in the darkness towards destruction.