The Power Of The Word

And daily in the temple, and in every house, they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.

Acts 5:42

Alexander Smith was the sole survivor of the band of mutineers who took the English ship Bounty from its captain, William Bligh, in 1787. The community of natives for which Smith found himself responsible on Pitcairn Island were defeated, diseased, and despondent—until he discovered the Bounty’s Bible, which he began to teach them. Twenty years later, a visiting ship found a thriving Christian community, the fruit of the Word of God.

Because the Word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12), and because it never fails to accomplish the purposes for which it was given (Isaiah 55:10–11), we should not be surprised when we read stories like that of Alexander Smith. Multitudes of lives throughout history—including yours?—have been transformed by responding to the teaching of Scripture. Some Christians have the spiritual gift of teaching, but all Christians are responsible for knowing God’s truth and communicating it to others as the Spirit gives opportunity.

God has chosen preaching and teaching the Bible as the means for announcing the good news of salvation. How shall people otherwise hear (Romans 10:14)?