1 Thessalonians 2:13For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe.

Effectual, successful in producing a desired or intended result; effective: so in this the Word of God alone produces a desired effect. One of the comments I hear the most from fellow disciples is, “I don’t get it.” I cannot help but ask, “Have you read it?” The answer is inevitably yes, they read it, but they do not understand.

It is difficult to convince a person who seeks knowledge that the Word of God will do a work in them even in the absence of their understanding. They often give up reading the Word because they do not see what they expect to see. Failure to read the Word stunts spiritual growth.

I am very fortunate in that I am not hampered by the burdens of having to work for a living. A stroke took care of that part of my life. Even when I did work I set aside time to read the Word. As I live my life now I have to set aside time to do other things besides read and study the Word.

This is how I know this verse to be true. I encourage you to read. I implore you to read. The one thing I cannot do is read the Word for you. It is only effectual in me because I read. The more you read, the greater effect it will have in your life.

The only other advice I can give on the subject is to stop having expectations of what the Word will do in you based on your own desires. You are His workmanship and created in Him according to His design, will and plans. In order for you to be part of all that, you need to read His Word.

Hebrews 12:1 Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,

Paul used a variety of visual images to convey his messages. Readers could picture in their memories Roman soldiers in the armor of Ephesians 6. He liked sports metaphors also. Competitive racing was used here. So I would ask you to picture in your mind’s eye the scene wherein you are about to run this race.

Do you see an Olympic stadium full of cheering crowds out to encourage athletes from their country? Do you see banners, and colors, and national identity all around you? Do you see the podium awaiting the winner, the prize of a gold medal to be won? Can you see yourself standing on the top step victorious?

Is that really the image Paul is trying to portray for Christians?

How easily it is to forget that in the previous chapter Paul was pointing to a long list of men of faith that came before us. He begins with the word wherefore here in 12:1 as a starting point to remember that long list of witnesses, not of their efforts but of God’s. There faithfulness was not in self-effort but rather in being given the opportunity to see God work in power in their lives. Each and every one of them if asked would answer, “To God be the Glory.”

Yet when we picture things thru the human experience, to relatable concepts, we drag fleshly emotions into spiritual concepts and paint the wrong image. Maybe in some sense of duty to those who went before us Paul is allowing you to hear “Make us proud.” I don’t know. That may work for some as a method of encouragement. Some need to hear the cheering crowd.

But who gets the glory in that?