Words

Gen 1:1  In the beginning when God created the heavens and the earth,2  the earth was a formless void and darkness covered the face of the deep, while a wind from God swept over the face of the waters. 3  Then God said, "Let there be light"; and there was light. 4  And God saw that the light was good; and God separated the light from the darkness. 5  God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day. 6  And God said, "Let there be a dome in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters."

Genesis Chapter One has a rhythm to its words – a rhythm that is built around the opening declaration “And God said” and the closing affirmation “and it was so”. This writing introduces us to the Creator God, an All-powerful Being who brings life into existence by speaking a word. This chapter seeks to remind readers of the power of the spoken word of God.

However, we have discovered that all words have power, not just the words of God. When human beings speak we can change our lives. Sadly, not all of our words change our lives for the better. Unlike God, whose words bring life, some of our words can bring death. When we speak with bitterness and anger to another person we crush the life out of them. When we slander the character of another person we bring words of destruction and not creation.

Make it your resolution for today to walk in the footsteps of our creator God – and only speak words that are life-giving.....word of love, and encouragement, and peace

Prayer: O Creator God: grant me the discernment to use my words wisely, that they may bring life into this world. Amen        

Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

10 “The Authority of God’s Word”

The Scripture passage for the day is drawn from Reuben Job and Norman Shawchuck, A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and other Servants, (Nashville, The Upper Room 1983), 71.

This reflection is from my own devotional exercises for the day.