The Transformative Power of God’s Grace

“Your words were found, and I ate them, And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart; For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.” - Jeremiah 15:16 NKJV

We Need Revelation

“Your words were found…”

The word “found” suggests discovery. God’s words must be revealed to us by His Spirit. The most educated and enlightened human mind cannot grasp the truths contained in scripture without the Divine hand. God must reveal Himself to us. We cannot know or perceive the God of the Bible if He doesn’t provide us with revelation. To approach the scriptures as one approaches a work of literature or any other book is to miss it. At best we will walk away with improved morality but our hearts’ condition may be worse off.

We need God to open our eyes to see Him as He truly is, not as we want Him to be. The first two commandments can be summarized thus: “Do not worship false gods and do not worship God falsely”¹ (see Exodus 20:3-6). The Bible provides us with the revelation of God through His Son to help us worship the true God. The absence of such knowledge is the cause of the worship of false gods that plague society and (sadly) religious communities today.

We need God to open our eyes to see Him as He truly is, and not as we want Him to be.

The religious leaders were well-versed in scripture, prayed often, gave diligently, evangelized, and engaged in discipleship. Yet, they led the opposition of the gospel of Jesus Christ and wrongly thought they were offering service to God (John 16:2-3). Instead, they served a false god, and not the God of the Bible that the gospel reveals.

The god they served had high standards of holiness for others but cuddled their hypocrisy (Matthew 23:25-26); that god cared far more about their pockets than he did their hearts (Matthew 23:23). This god was transactional in his relationship with them; “give”, not out of love for God and others but, “because it will come back to you”. This god seemed to exist for his people and his “grace” did not produce a Christ-centered life. He was a means to their varied ends.

You will inevitably worship a custom-made god if you do not discover God in His word. Your heart defaults to manufacturing false images of God. It wants to serve a god of its own making. It ultimately wants to put the self at the center and reject the true God. This is the condition of the heart of every human being, whether they are religious or secular. You are prone to this, even if you are a Christian. Do you not realize that the Bible’s primary audience is the community of God’s chosen? You must then ask yourself: is the God I serve the true God or a projection of my heart?

The Necessity of the Word

“and I ate them…” 

This phrase has at least two implications. First, the necessity of the Word of God. The Bible likens the word of God to food. Food is necessary for life because it provides the energy and nutrients needed to function, grow, and stay healthy. In the same way (and more) we cannot function, grow, and be the healthy people God wants us to be without feeding on His word (see 1 Peter 2:1-3). To receive nourishment from food, we must eat it. Consuming food, not just preparing it, is necessary for nourishment.

Second, for most people, eating requires an appetite. The absence of an appetite might often signal that something is wrong. When a person falls sick, they may lose their appetite, and even their favorite foods may not be as appealing as before. Similar to how illness can dull our physical appetite, sin can dampen our yearning for God’s word. A child’s healthy development requires a good appetite. When a child loses their appetite, it can be worrisome to even experienced parents.

You will inevitably worship a custom-made God if you do not discover God in His word. Your heart defaults to manufacturing false images of God.

Any believer hoping to grow in grace must consume the word. To be passive about the word is to deny oneself of growth; growth into the man or woman that God intends for you to be. Our desire for God should be intense and engaging, consuming our whole heart. We need this kind of desire to dig deep, explore, and find the treasures hidden in the Word of God. God does not practice force-feeding; you must have the correct attitude and desire for the word (see Psalm 81:10).

The Efficacy of the Word

“And Your word was to me the joy and rejoicing of my heart”

When the Word of God is found and consumed it affects the heart. It imparts knowledge that surpasses knowledge; it has an impact on us far beyond the mental sphere. The word doesn’t just inform, it transforms. Like a hammer-shattering stone, God’s word cracks open the heart, reshaping us from within. It changes the motivations and boastings of the heart. Through consistent contemplation of God’s word, the heart gradually sheds its attachment to material things, discovering a deeper joy in Christ.

The heart is no longer dependent on external things for its joy. Instead of seeking glory in its accomplishments and possessions, the heart finds true fulfillment in the depths of God’s love. Its desire shifts from self-aggrandizement to serving and loving God, regardless of outward circumstances. The word transforms us from self-centered and self-serving people to true servants of God. The word affects our core so we no longer use God for our ends instead we live for Him. 

“Your word was to me…”

Its effect goes beyond the corporate impact; it affects you in a personal way. Others may live for themselves but “to me” to live is Christ. The word transforms your outlook on the world. You no longer have to check what others think on a subject before reaching your conclusions. That is, the word delivers you from groupthink and imposes on you an individuality anchored in the truth. It brings deliverance from people-pleasing and transforms the individual into a God-pleaser. It reshapes the mind that is exposed to its teachings. In this day when social media significantly influences how people think, we need the transformative power of the word to restructure our worldview.

The Word shapes the heart’s attitudes and motivations. It centers the heart on the invisible and away from earthly treasures. The Word is not merely historical accounts or a collection of principles; it is far more. The words of God are spirit and life (John 6:63 NKJV). They are God’s transformative power.

In this day when social media significantly influences how people think, we need the transformative power of the word to restructure our worldview.

It is a Work of Grace

“For I am called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”

The word “for” here is synonymous with “because”. I receive revelation from God, consume His word frequently, and my heart is transformed “because” I am called by God’s name. This is good news: all of the things outlined above are a work of Grace. Children have no hand in their birth; they bear their fathers’ name not because they earned it but because he fathered them. The inheritance of a father’s name is purely a consequence of paternity, not achievement.

Similarly, knowing God and being transformed to become more like Jesus is a work of Grace. We did not contribute to becoming His children; we did nothing deserving to bear His name. God did not see any fantastic talent or potential in us that gave Him the motivation to bring us into His family. You are in only because of what Jesus did for you!!

Seeing what God has done for us in Christ Jesus gives us a new motivation in our pursuit of God. It is possible to study scriptures diligently and the motivation is wrong. A minister might spend time in prayer only because they need to be seen as a great bible teacher. When ministry ceases for the said minister, does the quality of their devotion remain? Any motivation for knowing God that is not drawn from God’s grace and love displayed in Christ is most likely centered on self and is unsustainable.

Prayers powered by anxieties, cravings, or ambition have a flickering flame. This kind of prayer life falters when troubles simmer down, schedules cram up, or the coveted promotion is achieved. Such devotion, ultimately, is self-serving. A devotion to God rooted in His grace and love, displayed in the crucified LORD, continues in the day and night seasons of life.

Face to Radiant Face

Face to radiant face with Jesus’ beauty and glory, our hearts ignite with an insatiable hunger for His Word. We devour it, and within, a profound transformation unfolds, making us more like His Son. You may already be experiencing this drawing. If this is so, do not boast. It is a work of grace; it is God at work powerfully in you. All of this is so that God takes all the glory. We get no credit even if we are diligent in the disciplines of grace, because “it is God who works in you to will and to fulfill His good purpose.” 

Face to radiant face with Jesus’ beauty and glory, our hearts ignite with an insatiable hunger for His Word. We devour it, and within, a profound transformation unfolds, making us more like His Son.

All of this is because of Grace. I cannot seek or find God by my power. My default state is not to seek God or have any desire for His word (see John 6:44; Romans 3:11). And I am grateful to God that this is the case. If it were not so, only the strong among us would have enough willpower to seek God. I desire and seek God because of what He has done for me in (and through) Jesus. It is all because of His Son.

I’ll end with the lyrics of the songwriter²:

Turn your eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

Turn your eyes to the hillside
Where justice and mercy embraced
There the Son of God gave His life for us
And our measureless debt was erased

Jesus, to You we lift our eyes
Jesus, our Glory and our Prize
We adore You, behold You, our Savior ever true
Oh Jesus, we turn our eyes to You

1. John Lin (2022). The New City Catechism Devotional. What does God require in the first, second, and third commandments? Crossway ↩︎
2. Original words (V1) and music by Helen H. Lemmel. Add. words (V2-4) by George Romanacce, Nathan Stiff, Nic Trout, and Kevin Winebarger. Chorus by George Romanacce, Nathan Stiff, Nic Trout, and Kevin Winebarger. ↩︎