2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 2Thessalonians 1:2
I can be a picky person especially when it comes to my writing. I am so picky that this is my third attempt at today’s blog. I should warn you that today’s blog contains a scripture bomb by that I mean more than 2 or more scriptures followed by explanations and commentaries…enjoy.
For the last three Sunday’s Pastor Pete, of the River Crossing Cowboy Church in Marshall Texas, has been giving sermons about how the words we use can affect the people around us as well as the words they use towards us and others…primarily it is geared on how we use our words with other people. I could not help feeling that the sermon was like an educational family/relationship counseling session. Pastor Pete citied John1:1 in the beginning of one of his sermons as to make a point about the importance of words and the Word.
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1
In the above scripture the first verse of John establishes several important facts, and introduces an important term. Jesus is referred to as “The Word,” from the Greek word logos. Christ is the Logos, the definition, the meaning, the “Word” of God. According to scholars this is the first of John’s seven names for Jesus: “The Word.” The rest of the gospel is John’s attempt to prove this through various forms of evidence, in particular Jesus’ miracles. The first eighteen verses of John counter many false beliefs about God. Verse 1 establishes that the universe had a beginning, contrary to the idea that it is eternal. It also states that God has existed (at least) from that beginning. Later verses will show that God, in fact, created all that exists. This verse also makes it very clear that this Logos, Jesus, is identical to the Creator: the Word was God. This begins to establish the concept of the Trinity, where God is one being in three distinct persons.
105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. Psalm 119:105
According to some scholars the above scripture is meant to help us to return into a right relationship with the Lord when we abandon the road of righteousness or stray from the path of peace. I happen to think that the teachings of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior will show us the path of our Christian journey and that we will travel on the narrow smooth path if we abide by all of His teachings…but that’s just me.
24 Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body. Proverbs 16:24
The word “grace” can sometimes be confusing to people with no religious background. I read this definition in an article that said “Through God’s grace, we have salvation, forgiveness of sins, a relationship with God, access to God throne, ability to endure trials and sustaining power in our Christian journey. So we are to speak to all the people around us of things in goodness, love, supportive and encouraging which leads me to the scripture below.
11 Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing. 1Thessalonians 5:11
This is one of my favorite scriptures because of people. Today’s society is filled with hypercritical people that point their fingers at everything, especially in the political arenas and social medias, just to gain some kind of notoriety or celebrity status. Usually there is some kind of finger pointing with what-were-they-thinking criticism followed by a lengthy commentary and “There is one good thing about so and so”. Oooohhh just missed saying the things that Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior says we should do by this much. The above scripture tells the Christian to be encouraging to all people that we should not criticize other people. Most people do not criticize themselves, although there are some people that do myself included, actually some people boast about themselves and most others encourage themselves and try not to be discouraged. We should treat people like the way we treat ourselves and be encouraging and uplifting.
36 I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, Matthew 12:36
This is a scary scripture. On the day of Judgement Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior will return and on that day all people will be made accountable for all the words that they have spoken. I know many of you who are not of the Christian faith will scoff at this scripture and say it will never happen. What if it does? What if Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior returns will you ask for forgiveness? Will you believe that Jesus Christ died for your sins? Will you accept Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior? Are you prepared to face Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior and face the judgement He will hand to you? Christians will and to this day they are preparing themselves for His return. Will you?
21 Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits. Proverbs 18:21
This scripture tell us that “the power of the tongue” or the words we speak have much power. We can curse someone or we can bless someone the choice is ours to make. However there will be consequences to those choices so choose wisely. For a moment there I felt like writing “my young padawan”. Oh! So it is safe to say that the words we use with the people around us have a definite impact some good and some bad the words we speak are our choice and the consequences are a result of those choices.
As with the most of my blogs I start with a topic, in this case words, and at the end I have to realize an additional topic. I thought the concept of how people of the Christian faith as well as non believers should be careful of the words they use when speaking to people. the bible is filled with the ways that Christians should conduct themselves which simply put is like Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Which brings me to my second topic…faith.
20 He said to them, “Because of your little faith. For truly, I say to you, if you have faith like a grain of mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move, and nothing will be impossible for you.” Matthew 17:20
Mustard seeds are really small so then the analogy here is you just need faith your faith even though the size of a mustard seed will be enough. Much of our dealings in the world that do not believe in the Christian faith can be overwhelming. All you need is faith to overcome the overwhelming world. If you have faith and pray nothing will be impossible for you and so it is with so many things in the Christian life and all the scriptures mentioned above. With words with love with faith with the aspiration to be like Jesus our journey in the Christian faith becomes…better. No one said that the Christian life will be easy but it is truly worth it.
Remember:
16 For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. John 3:16 NIV
God bless all that read this with His love, light, grace, mercy, and wisdom. In the name of Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
P.S. Many thanks to Pastor Pete from the River Crossing Cowboy church for the wisdom and inspiration.