IMTS Global

MEMORIAL - On a Personal Note: Words

Words. Powerful vehicles by which we express the most intimate of thoughts, convey our needs both of necessity and desire, and portray our dreams for others to understand and embrace. Words, these mono and multi-syllabic expressions " of our minds literally" (pun intended) have the potential to destroy, and to bring forth life. The Psalmist wrote:

Ps 33:6
6	By the word of the LORD the heavens were made, and by the breath of His mouth all their host. (NAS)

Imagine the power of God's words. What an incredible reality to know that by the "spoken word" the heavens and the earth were created. And if that were not enough, life itself was conceived through His command. The very breath of life, which would allow man to rise from the dust, was from "His very mouth"!

I am in awe when I think of the power words embody. Contrast the creative powers of "God's words" with that of "the fool" that Solomon wrote of:

Prov 16:27-28
27	A worthless man digs up evil, while his words are as a scorching fire.
28	A perverse man spreads strife, and a slanderer separates intimate friends. (NAS)

Whereas the Master's words create life and unity, bringing molecular biology to reality, the fool's words scorch and destroy like fire, separating and dividing. The titles befitting this man include "worthless", "perverse" and "slanderer". It is only fitting to raise the "mirror" to behold ourselves and test which of the two categories our words fall. Do we separate and divide? Are the words, which flow from our lips, searing and scorching? Or do they sooth, calm and bring healing? Do our words actually antagonize or do they bring peace. Solomon wrote:

Prov 15:1
1	A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (NAS)

How frequently, and unfortunately quickly our tongue is only too willing to lash out and reveal our innermost thoughts. At work, home, church, and between both believers and unbelievers we pour forth our contempt with little thought to the destruction and pain we leave in our wake. And not only true of adults, our children have learned to be equally adept at devastating with the spoken word. Solomon declared:

Eccl 5:2
2	Do not be hasty in word or impulsive in thought to bring up a matter in the presence of God. For God is in heaven and you are on the earth; therefore let your words be few. (NAS)

Hasty or impulsive? How representative of many of the words which fleetingly leave our mouths. Do you weigh your words? Do you measure what, and how you will speak? Or do you find yourselves babbling forth like an uncontrolled river, flooding all in your path? Jesus, in His rebuke of the Pharisees addressed not only their impulsivity, but the content and carelessness of the words which they condemned with:

Matt 12:34-37
34	"You brood of vipers, how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.
35	"The good man out of his good treasure brings forth what is good; and the evil man out of his evil treasure brings forth what is evil.
36	"And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.
37	"For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned." (NAS)

As we hear the Master speak these words of rebuke to the Pharisees, I believe we sense the truth of His disdain regarding our own words as well. I trust you understand what I mean when I lament over words of this nature, which have left my own mouth. Words unmeasured, unweighed, thrusting forth and bearing the brunt of my own sin, only to fall on ears unable to bear up to their weight. Scorching and dividing, these words and their consequences are difficult to mend. Have you ever been there? Do you have memories of words, which have "branded you"? Perhaps you were the victim; perhaps you were the guilty party.

Words. They can, and usually are powerful mediums. Lets submit them and ourselves to the Hand of the Almighty. Lets beseech Him to "cleanse our hearts" as well as "our lips", that the words which do come forth will instead bring forth life. Ultimately, as the Psalmist pleaded:

Ps 19:14
14	Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. (NAS)

Coram Deo,

Jeff Ellis
Elder of Administration and Education