“Kind words can be short and easy to speak but their echoes are
endless.”- Mother Theresa
"but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless
evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it
we curse people who are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come
blessing and cursing." - James 3:8-10
I have come to realize the power of the spoken
word. From both a spiritual and an experiential point of view, it is apparent
to me that our lives our shaped more than we know by the truths and lies spoken
into them.
In a single word a man can be given the confidence
to build kingdoms, and in a single word can be brought to ashes.
Any time I open my mouth I am given a choice - do I
speak blessing or curse? Do I create life by my words or bring to destruction?
Do I empower and embolden or discourage and disgust?
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue,
and those who love it will eat its fruits."
- Proverbs 18:21
Even though we don't want to admit it, our words
last far longer than we would like. The impact of our words last as long as the
lives of those they affected, and then indirectly go on to influence others
beyond this. Based on this, I feel a need to exercise caution in my words -
both spoken and written. A facebook post can come to haunt you, just as a
spoken curse can. Proverbs 10:19 says that "When words are many,
transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent."
Let us not forget that by the WORD the world and
all that is in it was created. Is Genesis 1 not filled with the testimony that "and
God said, Let there be..." By HIS own design, the Word has the power
to create. It has the power to speak things into existence. It is the channel
by which relationships are built.
Words are bridges to community. Words are beacons
of light in the dark.
By God's very nature, the WORD reflects both the
power to create and the essence of communion with another. Christ, the way to
being united with God, is Himself called "The Word." John 1 bears
witness that not only "in the beginning was the Word, and the Word was
with God, and the Word was God" (vs. 1), but that "Word became
flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son
from the Father, full of grace and truth" (vs. 14).
So, what is the implication here?
If the Word of God is true in Romans 8:29 when it
states that we "were predestined to be conformed to the image of His
Son", then part of our purpose is to reflect the creative power and
community found in The Word himself! (At this point I know your mind is
starting to strain at the implications, and for that I don't apologize. This is
good for you.)
When I speak as a follower of Christ, empowered by
the Holy Spirit, I have the capability within me to speak hope into existence
by The Word. I have the capability to be a bridge to communion with the Father.
By my words, THE WORD Himself will be known - by the Word proclaimed. When I
speak truth into someone's life, that spiritual seed has the capability to
begin movements, to inspire leaders, to change lives, to reverse trajectories
leading to death. The Word that I bear can CREATE LIFE in a dead heart. By my
lips I bear the power of resurrection.
"So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of
Christ." - Romans 10:17
Why would I not speak, then? What a wondrous thing
indeed to be a part of the imparting of life, the creation of a new thing.
The tongue of the wise brings healing
(Prov. 12:18), it is a tree of LIFE (Prov. 15:4).
"Gracious words are like a honeycomb,
sweetness to the soul
and health to the body." - Proverbs 16:24
Until next time, Bowman.
(Part 2 coming eventually)
