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Education Ministry

Posted on October 6, 2004 ...

It has been said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” In either form, written or spoken, words have a greater capacity for both help and harm than any instrument devised by man. By words, wars have begun; and by the same, they have been averted. Words can heal a wounded heart or shatter a fragile spirit. They can carry the most beautiful proclamations of love or the most vile expressions of evil. Yet in spite of their great power, words are among the most unassuming aspects of humanity. We use them effortlessly, at times without the assistance of conscience thought. Perhaps it is our familiarity with them that obscures our awareness of their potential.

The Bible speaks of words as much more than a means of communication. It was by the Word of God that the world and all it contains came into being. The Psalmist referred to God’s Word as a lamp unto his feet, and a light unto his path. The Apostle John described the incarnation of Jesus as the Word becoming flesh and dwelling among us. Jesus is the Word; and the Word is God.

During His earthly ministry, Jesus demonstrated His mastery of the spoken word. By His word alone, He healed the sick, gave sight to the blind, calmed storms, and even restored life to the dead. His words amazed the crowds, infuriated the religious leaders, brought comfort to the hurting, humbled the strong, and encouraged the weak. Still, after two thousand years, those same words provide the clearest recipe for peace and joy any language has ever known.

The power of words. Although we do not think much about it, we have a great power at our command. With hardly much thought at all we wield it everyday in the vicinity of husbands and wives, brothers and sisters, children, friends, co-workers, classmates, and strangers. Have you ever considered that the words you speak carry the hope of eternal life for these people? It is an amazing proposition. You and I are actually part of God’s plan to bring lost souls into His Kingdom. Peter once testified to Jesus, “You have the words of eternal life.” Yet Jesus is no longer physically in our midst. Where will the lost souls of this world go to receive His life-giving words? Jesus transferred this function to His followers. The fact that Christians remain on this planet after they receive the gift of eternal life bears this out. The Good News truth of Jesus was never meant to be kept within the walls of the church. It was never meant to be a secret topic of discussion for those fortunate enough to have received it. It is to move beyond our walls and infiltrate the world. It is to be shouted from the roof tops. Salt and Light, Jesus called us. May our words this day add good flavor to the world – may they light the path that will lead others to Jesus.