ICHTHUS, MikeC's statement does in fact give an answer to your question. You ask does it mean God is working in their lives? You stated: that they read--though their motives are evil. The words not returning empty or void is a statement of God--it is true absolutly. The meaning is that God's words accomplish what he sends them to do. In the case of some, that work is salvation and faith--faith comes by hearing aand hearing by the word of God. In the case of others that work is condemnation--occasion of piling up wrath against the day of wrath. The bilbe says that unstable souls wrest or twist the scriptures unto their oun condemnation. It also says that as we witness for Christ, to some it is a savor of life unto life, and to others it is a savior of death unto judgement. All these things will be recconed up in the day of judgement, every idol word, thought, and deed; there will be no excuses--let God be found true,though every man a lier. Every knee will bow and every toung confess that Jesus is Christ to the glory of God on that day. The word they read will do it's work; that is a fact. ...DGB