“For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:10-11

God’s Word – whenever and wherever it is read, preached or proclaimed – will accomplish God’s purpose. It does not return to God empty, but it accomplishes what God purposes and succeeds in the thing for which God sent it.

Notice that God does not say it will accomplish our purpose but His, and sometimes that can be a surprise to us and unexpected. Let me give you a couple of examples.

I recently made calls on a church member in a nursing facility, each time sharing a short Scripture reading and a few words of explanation and application regarding that Word of our God. Though it was on some occasions difficult for me to see a response in the church member, it opened the door to frequent conversations with another resident of the facility who expressed his desire to hear more and professed his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And though our church member has since gone home to be with the Lord, I still visit the other resident and share with him the Word of our God.

Just yesterday I stopped at a rehabilitation hospital to share a reading from Psalm 130 with a man who is a family member of one of our church members. After explaining that none of us would or could measure up and be acceptable to God if He were to keep a record of our sins and hold them against us but that there is forgiveness with God because of the abundant redemption provided for all by Christ Jesus when He died for our sins and rose again, I heard a voice behind the divider curtain saying, “Pastor, when you are done there, could you come and visit me also?”

I visited the second man. He had been a pastor for many years and then had served as a chaplain but was clearly somewhat discouraged because of his health problems. He told me that I was the first pastor he had heard in the facility since he had been there. I was privileged to assure Him of God’s grace and mercy in Christ Jesus as well and to take his hand and pray for him.

In both of these examples – and I could give you many more because “the fields are white for harvest” (John 4:35) – I went and shared the Word with one purpose in mind, but God had an even greater purpose than I had anticipated. Through the sharing of His Word, He also gave comfort and assurance to others whom He has chosen and called to be His own.

All this goes to show that God’s Word never comes back empty and fruitless. God works through it to convict the impenitent and to comfort those who are troubled over their sins. He lifts up the discouraged and broken-hearted with the promises of His Word and strengthens and builds up His children in the faith.

And, even when we don’t or can’t see the results, God’s Word is at work, accomplishing His purposes.

And what does all this have to do with our preparation for worship on Sunday? God’s Word is like the rain and snow which come down from heaven and water the earth so that it produces food to nourish and sustain both the farmer and the eater. As we gather to hear God’s Word and to receive Christ’s Supper, God is at work in ways we often do not expect or anticipate.

God uses the Word to reveal our sins and failures to live as He desires and commands, but He also speaks to us through His Word and the Lord’s Supper to give to us and assure to us the forgiveness of all our sins and a place in His everlasting kingdom because of what Jesus did for us when He died on the cross and rose again.

Through His Word and Christ’s Supper, God lifts us up from the depths of despair over our sin and guilt and comforts us with the plenteous redemption provided for us in Christ Jesus. Again, if God were to keep track of our sins and hold them against us, who could stand? But, there is forgiveness with Him because of the abundant redemption accomplished for us by Christ Jesus!

God’s Word, and His Sacraments, will not return empty. They will accomplish God’s purpose and succeed in the thing for which He sent them. Come, you might even be surprised at the work God has purposed for you!

Pastor Randy Moll

[Scripture quotations are from The ESV® (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version®), Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.]