… 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 55:11 ESV)
Effective
I have a flashlight, a favorite one, that does not work. But for some reason I keep it. I kept an old pickup truck long after it stopped running, because I chose silly hope. Recently I threw away four laptop computers that no longer computed, because I had thought I could figure out a fix.
We have a lot of things around that do not do what they are meant to do. Clocks gain or lose time. Ovens cook unevenly. Fish bait does not attract the best fish. Cell phones act weirdly. Shoes do not fit just right.
But God’s Word does what He intends it to do.
We doubt, at times, because God’s Word does not do what we think He intends it to do. God does not intend His Word to make us content with our lazy devotion. God does not intend His Word to condemn our neighbors, but placate us. God does not intend His Word to give us power, give us self-sufficiency, give us self-confidence, or give us good feelings.
God sent His Word to bring His people to Himself, through Jesus Christ.
And the good news in Isaiah’s prophecy here, is that the Good News works.
When seeking for the Jesus that you need, you will find Him through Scripture, doing it’s job.
Scripture alone.