Sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me.
You have probably heard this saying before. Maybe you nah nah, nah nah nahed it to someone that harassed you as a child. But truth be told words can hurt and that hurt can plough deep into someone's soul even causing them to act out on negative words slung directly to them. The world's view of words in that saying contradicts what God's word, the Bible emphasizes about the power of words. Highlighting their ability to build or tear down.
Proverbs 18:21 tells us "Death and life are in the power of the tongue...."
James 3:5 "the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!"
Proverbs 12:18 "There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health." Here we see that the tongue can be like a weapon the pierces through every fiber of one's being causing great damage to a person. Then again words from one who is wise can help promote relationships and be uplifting to one who recieves those encouraging words.
Proverbs 15:4 tells us "The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse ( corrupt, perverted) tongue crushes the spirit." Words that encourage and build up, that compliment and inspire are soothing to ones soul and spirit. They are remembered by those who appreciate the kindness showed them.
In fact Jesus explains to us with His words in Matthew 12:36-37 "But I tell you, on the day of judgment people will have to give an accounting for every careless or useless word they speak. For by your words [reflecting your spiritual condition] you will be justified and acquitted of the guilt of sin; and by your words [rejecting Me] you will be condemned and sentenced.”
And in Luke 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
It matters how we communicate with each other. Today's political climate is rout with inflammatory, insulting, vile language and words that may cause one to travel down into a deep dark abyss where one is finally influenced by those words to commit the most heinous and contemptible, unthinkable actions. Including violence, mayhem, and/or murder.
The Bible tells us as a person thinks so they are. What we put into our minds matters. Junk in - junk out. Paul tells us,"do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God." (Romans 12:2) The word here for transformed in the orginal language is the word metamorphoo from which we get the english word metamorphosis where the caterpillar makes a change to a beautiful butterfly.
For God's people the will of God is our sanctification, our being set apart to do what God has called us to to be. "A chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, His own special people, that you may proclaim the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;" A people God has called from the darkness of this present evil age to the glorious praise of God's glory.
James tells us "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you." (James 1:21)
Christians are to plant the word of God into their hearts. That we may not sin against God. (Ps. 119:11) The Word of God must be our desire, to be more like the One who came and died on a cross for the sins of His chosen people. The One who shed His blood, and rose again the third day according to the scriptures. Jesus Christ is our example of what our lives of obedience should be. Not that anyone can attain to His perfection. But we should walk worthy of the call we have received. (Col. 2:6-7)
Always remember "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." The word of God is our pathway to living a Holy life. How can one do what God asks if one doesn't know what God says? And what God says is in the pages of His word. That great reformer John Calvin called it "God's baby talk." God reaches down from His heavenly home in the person of his Son and in Jesus Christ's apostles to help us see who we are and what we should be. How we are to live and be a light in a dark, corrupt, perverse and seemingly hopeless world drowning in its own inequity and sin.
“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness.” – 2 Timothy 3:16 ;
"for prophecy never came by the will of man, but holy men of God spoke as they were moved by the Holy Spirit." (2 Peter 1:21)
God used the prophets of Israel to inform them what God wanted them to do. How He wanted them to live. What was right in God's economy and what was seen as evil. He protected them and he watched out over them, provided for them and delivered them from their enemies. And God disciplined them when they disobeyed Him, were tempted to idolary, sexual immorality and the sinful ways of the pagan peoples round them.
Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly, as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom…” – Colossians 3:16
“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” – Proverbs 21:23
“My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” – James 1:19
“A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” – Proverbs 15:
Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:21-22)
Straight to the point. Do what God's word says. Hide God's word in your heart. Know it....practice it....proclaim it to Christians and the lost alike. Be not ashamed of the Gospel of Christ. For it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes....God's Word has the supernatural power to deliver a lost, tainted, rebellious person to being a forgiven obedient saint of God who is willing to trust and obey. For all God's people have been born again, not of perishable seed, but of imperishable, through the living and enduring word of God. For, “All people are like grass, and all their glory is like the flowers of the field; the grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of the Lord endures forever.”And this is the word that was preached to you. (1 Peter 1:23-25)
Dear people, we have been given a blessed hope by which we can be set free from the bondage of sin, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God. And all need redemption, to be rescued from their body of death. From the bondage to the things of this world, the lust of the flesh, lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. To the truth of the only name under heaven by which we can be saved. From the wrath of God for eternity separated from His glory in the hell of fire. To a redeemed soul, born from above. Brought from death to life and from darkness to the light of the world Jesus Christ. He who believes in Him will by no means be put to shame. But will spend eternity being in the presence of God and the glory of His power.
But to those who do not believe and are not born from above by the grace of God they will hear, "Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels. They will go away to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.” (Matthew 25)
Since each one of us is sinful from birth: "Behold, I was brought forth in iniquity (wickedness), And in sin my mother conceived me."(Ps. 51:5) Everyone needs a heart change....to be brought from darkness to light, from death to life. To be born again, by grace through faith. To be born not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. (John 1:13-14) Each of us must be redeemed from being sinners and at enmity (hatred) of God, following the course of this world, the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that works in the sons of disobedience. And we are by nature children of God's wrath. (Eph. 2:1-5)
Come to Jesus Christ all you who labor and are heavy laden (with the cares of this fallen world) and rest in Jesus Christ. He is your sabbath....the only rest. Jesus Christ is the Lord of the sabbath. WithHis death and resurretion He became the fulfillmentof our "sabbath rest." The salvation we have in Christ has made the old law of the nsabbath no longer needed or binding. When Jesus said, "the Sabbath was made for man, not man for the sabbath (Mark 2:27). Jesus was attesting to the fact that, just as the Sabbath day was originally instituted to give man rest from his labors, so did He come to provide us rest from laboring to achieve our own salvation by our works. Because of His sacrifice on the cross, we can now forever cease laboring to attain God's favor and rest in His mercy and grace. It is by His grace through faith and not of ourselves, it is a gift of God. This gift can not be earned by anyones good works. By attemtping to keep the law of God. For nobody can. No one can boast because they did or didn't do something, thinking they earned heaven. The kingdom of God isn't earned. It's a gift from God not of works lest anyone should boast.
For God made him (Jesus) who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. In Jesus Christ we rest knowing his sacrifice secured our place in the Kingdom of God. And no one is able to snatch you out of His hand. Jesus Christ's perfect obedience to God the Father, His willingness to obey the Father's will, live a perfect life--something no oridinary human being could live-- His death on that cross, and His rising again from the dead the third day according to the scriptures. Jesus conquered death for are his people drawn by God the Father to His Son. When you believe, Jesus Christ's righteousness is imputed to your account. It is as if you never sinned. The kingdom of God awaits all those who hear the word of God and keep it.
But anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom, and continues in it—not forgetting what they have heard, but doing it—they will be blessed in what they do. (James 1:21-25) For we are saved not by good works, but by grace through through faith. Yet scripture tells us that after one is born again, born from above, know that God has prepared good works in advance for you to do.
As the Lord and Savior Messiah Jesus said, "“I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” (John 8:12)
Go out into the world and be that light--preach the gospel with your life....."Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matt. 5:16)
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