Wednesday, October 5, 2011

The Power of Words: Part 1

Here's just a short thought that might spark a long conversation over the next several days.  Whenever I read stories in the Bible, I notice most people in the stories take very seriously all spoken word.  It seems that their words were living and once spoken into existence their words could actually alter the course of someone's life; either giving people a curse or a blessing. Again, this is just me working through a thought process that has been spinning around in my mind for many months now.  If my assessment of the ancient perspective of spoken words is correct or even close to correct (and I have not yet researched this in order to know if it is) then why does our world live so differently today?

At least in the Western world, there seems to not be much of an importance to the words that we say.  We say what we think, whenever we want to say it and don't often think that it has much consequence to speak critical, opinionated, kind or encouraging words to others. It doesn't seem to make sense that suddenly words would have no more "weight" like they did in ancient times. Why and when did this change?  And if it did not truly change, then maybe many of us are living in frustrating situations or in bless-ed and fruitful situations all because of a word that was spoken over us or directly to us somewhere in our lives by a family member, co-worker, friend, or stranger.  What if words really are living and able to alter the course of someone's life?  Doesn't God's Holy Word say clearly that all humans are made in His image....His likeness?  Meaning, we have the finite characteristics of His infinite ones.  If His Word is living and active...
Hebrews 4:12
"For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart."

.....then wouldn't we, God's creation, have the ability to have a finite version of that?

So many stories in the Old Testament AND the New Testament reveal to us that spoken word is powerful.  The Bible shows a person's spoken words can tear down people's lives in their present and their lives in the future thus altering their descendents lives as well. However, the Bible also shows clearly from the beginning to the very last verse that the spoken words of people can also anoint, bless, heal and redeem others.

This thought of mine is not fully developed.  I must give it more time to marinate before writing anymore. Forgive me for stopping short. Your thoughts to this topic are welcome while I publish these not-fully-edited thoughts.

Now, I'm really getting conscious of what I say.  Oh boy, this should be interesting, rewarding......or just plain annoying.
May you have a blessed day and may you find ways to bless others around you in WORD and in your actions. Peace.