My Dear Friend, 

In His most fundamental parable of the Sower and the Soil, Jesus warned us whenever we hear God's Word, "the devil" comes to "take away the word" from us (Lk. 8:12). Thus, He dubbed Satan the "word snatcher." How does the word snatcher work?

Good investigators search and gather factual evidence. Let's examine some of the facts the word snatcher has left at his various crime scenes:

He has snatched God's Word from academia - and even many evangelical seminaries and universities - by liberal theology, which teaches not all but only part of the Bible is the very Word of God. How can we trust a Bible we're not sure of?

He has snatched God's Message from many Christians by offending them with personal adversities, losses, and other troubles that beset them after become believers. How can God's Word be fruitful in us if we are offended with God or unforgiving toward people?

He has snatched the Logos from many by entangling them with the "thorns" of worldly interests, the deceptively alluring snares of money and material things, the lusts of the flesh, living for the pride of life, or fretting over contentious, unresolved social issues. How can God's Word abide and produce the fruit of the Spirit when these things are choking the life of the Spirit out of us and completely taking over our lives - which should be consecrated wholly to Jesus and His will?

And he works in a thousand other ways. Anyone or anything - including excessive attention to ministry or other good works - that would crowd out God's Word in your life must be recognized for what it is: the work of the word snatcher! There are many activities, pastimes, and excellent things that we may engage in, but we must structure our schedules so they complement, not replace, a sufficient quantity of quality time in the thirsty, hungry, adoring, patient, prayerful, life-dependent examination of God's Word. It's decision time.

Will we be Word-loving Marys or hyper-distracted Marthas? (See Luke 10:38-42.) Don't have time for God's Word? Then take time from something else of mere temporal worth and give those hours to prayerfully reading and thoroughly studying "that good part which shall not be taken away" from you forever (Lk. 10:42).

To diligently, prayerfully study God's Word in fellowship with Him, under the amazing tutelage of His Spirit, is to have "face time" with Jesus. And as we behold His "face" - true nature, heart, thoughts, disposition, will, and plan - He speaks to us, molds us, inspires us, guides us, all by His supernatural, Spirit-filled, life-giving Word. We emerge from such "face times" permanently altered, stronger, and more fit to discharge the duties He has set before us. Paul believed and taught this: "And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another" (2 Corinthians 3:18).

The word snatcher hates this "face time" and will do or suggest anything to prevent or interrupt it, or, after we've enjoyed it, spoil it by provoking or tempting us to in any way disobey God. Be wise. Be discerning. Be determined. Do not allow the word snatcher to "take away the Word" from you!

Recognize when doubt, carnal reasoning, or false teaching are laying their cold, clammy hands on your mind to get you to not have full confidence in a Bible miracle, prophecy, or promise, and tell them, "Be gone, Satan!"

Discern when interests and activities that were at one time a blessing begin to wrap around your heart and mind and body and quench all the spiritual life out of you because you no longer have the time, desire, or energy to study God's Word, and cast them off!

Acknowledge it when the Spirit shows you your wrong reaction to a personal adversity, or a social or political controvery, has spoiled your spirit and rendered your formerly sweet and productive Bible studies dull and unfruitful. Then readdress that adversity or issue the way God's Word says you should: "Fret not thyself because of evildoers ... neither be thou envious … [but] trust in the Lord, and do good [yourself] … delight thyself also in the Lord ...commit thy way unto the Lord … rest in the Lord … wait patiently … cease from anger, and forsake wrath" (Psalm 37:1-8). That's how you take back what the word snatcher took from you!

Whatever you need to do, however you need to rearrange your schedule, whatever other activities you need to reduce or eliminate, whoever may have to be displeased with you, whatever early morning or late night hours you must set aside, hold fast to your "face time" with Jesus.

That will make the word snatcher, frustrated, leave you and God's ministering angels, rejoicing, visit you: "Then the devil leaveth him, and, behold, angels came and ministered unto him" (Matt. 4:11).

Snatching back God's Word,

Greg Hinnant
Greg Hinnant Ministries