Throughout scripture God tells, instructs, and commands his people to document all the things he has done so others might see and know.
When God works in the lives of writers, we’re compelled to obey this command by documenting in the genre he's gifted us for, be it stories, poems, essays, devotionals, letters, art, music, encouragements - all with the purpose of testifying to what God has done.
At the InScribe Fall Conference I listened to stories of desperately dark times our writers have survived, or were in the midst of. I saw them seeking God day by day, minute by minute. Of course, all God’s children go through dark times, but unique to writers is their compulsion to step outside the events, to look through Jesus to what is happening, and formulate in their writer hearts words and pictures to describe it through a Holy Spirit filter.
This compulsion is what God has called us to. His word tells us why.
Because God himself is a writer.
Exodus 31:18 When He had finished speaking with him upon Mount Sinai, He gave Moses the two tablets of the testimony, tablets of stone, written by the finger of God.
Because God knows that which is engraved will seal our experience in Him.
Exodus 28:21There are to be twelve stones, one for each of the names of the sons of Israel, each engraved like a seal with the name of one of the twelve tribes.
Because God knows we need tangible evidence of what he has done in our lives.
Exodus 16:34 As the Lord commanded Moses, Aaron put the manna with the tablets of the covenant law, so that it might be preserved.
Because God’s great works are to be memorialized so future generations will know of and remember who God is.
Joshua 4:9 Joshua set up the twelve stones that had been in the middle of the Jordan at the spot where the priests who carried the ark of the covenant had stood.
Because God wrote on stone, so nothing would be lost, and we are His living stones.
1 Peter 2:5 you also, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house to be a holy priesthood, offering spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ.We must write when God lays His words on our hearts, trusting Him with the outcome.
Pray for the Word Warriors, privileged to be called to witness for God Almighty, the Great I Am.
photo credit: walk through the desert via photopin (license)
photo credit: Names of God Artwork Blue via photopin (license)
Wow. This is like a five point sermon. I love it. Very deep
ReplyDeleteThank-you for these words of purpose, with the inspired Word as backing. I plan to print them up and put on/near my desk--visible to help counter the continuous recurring doubts.
ReplyDeleteThank you for breathing out the Spirit's words which give me a refreshing perspective on writing!
ReplyDeleteI so appreciate the Scripture backing for each of your points, reminding me that yes, it is God that is compelling me to write. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteThank you Bobbi, you are truly a gift from God to all us in the Inscribe family for your faith and thoughtful insights.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Bobbi for this clear and profound lesson. I too would like to keep your five scripture-based reasons why God has called us to write in a spot so that I could refer to them regularly. I allso love your intro to these reasons: "Of course, all God’s children go through dark times, but unique to writers is their compulsion to step outside the events, to look through Jesus to what is happening, and formulate in their writer hearts words and pictures to describe it through a Holy Spirit filter." What power our words can infuse in our readers when we describe our experiences through "a Holy Spirit filter." Oh, Dear Lord, that each of us could sift through our journals and our lives, with such a true and fine filter. Amen
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