WORDS FOR THIS LIFE

I once thought that a lot of words we speak in this life are pointless and empty, just filling up the atmosphere with noise. There is probably some truth to that. But as I think about the vast majority of words I hear and have heard, and also the words I have spoken in my lifetime, I no longer think they are empty. I think words are full of something. Our words can be full of criticism, condemnation, hate, comparison and contention. Our words can also be full of love, full of hope, full of life. What comes out of your mouth is entirely dependent upon what you are filled with on the inside.

When negative, grumbling or snarky words come out of my mouth, I have learned to ask myself why….because there is certainly something in my heart at that moment that is being expressed by my words. And I don’t want it there. Here’s what I go back to when that happens, and it always brings me back to center:

“In the beginning the Word already existed. The Word was with God, and the Word was God. He existed in the beginning with God. God created everything through him, and nothing was created except through him. The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone.” John 1:1-4

“He came into the very world he created, but the world didn’t recognize him. But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God. They are reborn – not with a physical birth resulting from human passion or plan, but a birth that comes from God.

So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.” John 1:14

A word is the expression of a thought. Christ, then, is the expression of the Father’s thoughts through the Spirit.

Jesus said, “The words that I speak to you are spirit, and they are life.” (John 6:63.) How could they not be? He spoke out what was in him, which was (is) the Father!

In a conversation with Jesus, Peter said, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” John 6:68. I’m with Peter. There is no other direction, no other “way” I would choose to go, knowing what I know now. I will follow the one with the words of eternal life.

When Jesus prayed for the disciples, he said to the Father, “Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.”

“Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, ‘If you abide in my word, you are my disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.’” John 8:31-32.

When tempted by the devil to turn rocks into bread, Jesus told him, “Man shall not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4. The word of God is our sustenance.

In Romans 10:17 Paul tells us, “…faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through the word about Christ.”

If Christ is in me, the words that come out of my mouth should somehow re-present him. I am not given too many opportunities to preach, but I am given opportunities every day to share life…I bet you are, too. Just by living life the way Jesus did. Honestly. Truthfully. Lovingly. Building up, not tearing down.

God gave me the name for this blog. So the “words for this life” I will be sharing are words of Christ, words about Christ, words of life, words that reveal truth, justice, and mercy, and words to draw people closer to the Father-heart of God.