Transfigured by the Word - Pastor's Column July 2022
During my time in seminary, there were certain points throughout in which the Candidacy Committee would check in with the students. The Candidacy Committee is the Synod’s appointed group of pastors and laity who are tasked with approving seminary graduates for ordination in the ELCA. So, they also make it a point that, along the way, they check in with you to make sure you are doing well and that everything is on track.
When members of the Candidacy Committee visited me on internship, they asked, “Are you spending any time reading scripture? Dwelling in the Word?” I knew that my personal devotion time had been very lacking, but I didn’t want to answer in that way. I chose to say, “Well, I’m always dwelling in Scripture because I’ve always got a sermon to prepare, a Bible study to lead, or a Sunday School lesson to plan.” Of course, that was still not what they wanted to hear. Those were all good things, and they were glad I was sticking to Scripture to write and plan sermons and studies. But all these things were part of work; they had to be done; they had a particular goal and deadline to achieve. My colleagues on the Candidacy Committee wanted to make sure I was spending some devotional time just reading in Scripture, free from deadlines, goals, or agendas. They wanted me to read and dwell in the Word for my own sake, not just the current project in front of me. I needed to take the time to let Scripture speak to me, that I could be filled, nourished, and transformed by it.
The title I have chosen above is the same as an essay that was recently included in one of my theological journals. After reading the essay, this story from my internship year came to mind and served as another reminder of our need to always dwell in the Word of God. No matter how many times we have read it; no matter how many times we have heard a particular story from it, there is always the opportunity to read/hear it again with fresh eyes and ears.
We know that books are things to be read, but it is said that the Bible is the only book that reads you instead. In other words, Scripture—the written Word of God—has the power to look into you and your context in life, and bring to your eyes and ears the Word that you most need. In the same way, the Word is then able to renew us, change us, transform and transfigure us. It reminds us of all that God has done for us. It brings us hope again in times when we thought there was none. It causes us to both weep and rejoice. We weep and rejoice not because it’s a moving story that we have read, but because we have seen ourselves in the story. We are those who were without hope, yet have it restored. We are those who weep, yet have our joy restored. We are those who were once slaves to sin and death, but have been saved and given new life in Christ. As we read Scripture, dwell in it, or have it read to us, we are always being transformed and transfigured by it.
I find that I always need that reminder because even now, when I find I am at my busiest, personal devotion time for prayer and to dwell in the Word is the first thing that gets put on the back burner. I mean, I’ve got to finish the stuff that’s due for church this week first, right? Yes, it is important to get our work done, but perhaps not at the peril of spending time with our Lord and dwelling in his Word. We might even be surprised to find that when we do not neglect our devotional time, our other time-consuming burdens become much lighter to bear.
Blessings on your time dwelling in the Word,
and may peace of the Lord be with you,
Pastor Hooks