Monday, September 24, 2007

The power of words

The word of God is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).

What kind of power do words have? A parent or spouse can tell you that you’re worthless, and you may end up believing it. You might hear that a neighbor has been accused of molesting children; even though it comes out later that the poor man has been falsely accused, you’ll probably still look at him differently from now on.

Words are powerful. The words of one man living overseas resulted in airliners being hijacked and crashed into the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The words "I have a dream" gave the civil rights movement a rallying cry that eventually redefined how we Americans live together.

Words can stir people to greatness. Words can provide the strength needed to hang on when things look bleak. The words "I do" can unite two lives as one. But words can also destroy; words can tear apart relationships, cause humiliation, and bring about armed conflict. There is nothing in this world so powerful as words.

This is also the teaching of the Bible. God created the world just by speaking the words, "let there be…" (Genesis chapter one). The words of God are so powerful that, out of nothing, they can bring forth light and life. God creates and maintains the universe by the power of His word.

But God’s word is not an impersonal force. God’s word represents Him to us in a very personal way. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us (John 1:14); God’s living and active Word came into our world as a baby and died on the cross to end our slavery to sin. The Word that died, and then rose from the grave alive again, is none other than Jesus the Son of God. God has opened the way to heaven for you by the power of His word.

God’s powerful word is present among us today. God’s word is in homes and hospitals and hotel rooms and bookstores. His word is preserved between the covers of the Bible. And although it only looks like ink on paper, the word of God is living and active. Every time these words are read, the Spirit of God works through them to chip away at unbelief and show how wonderful life can be when you walk with Jesus. God can turn your life around by the power of His word.

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