Words

John 1 

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.  He was with God in the beginning.  Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.  In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.  The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. . . ."

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

God's chose to reveal himself to mankind in a person (Jesus, the Messiah, the Logos, the very Word of God.)

In Hebrews 1 1-3 we read. 

"Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds.  He is the reflection of God’s glory and the exact imprint of God’s very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word"

It’s amazing to think about Jesus participating in the creation of this world, but think about this!   He sustains all things – keeps them running.  He keeps the sun in the sky.  He holds this world in place.  He brings rain to support our green earth.  He continues to be active in our universe, by his powerful word. 

Jesus, The Word, is the one who helps us to know what God is like, what God’s heart is like.  

John 1:18 says. 

“Jesus is God’s only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.”

We see the Word in creation. In Genesis 1 we read

“In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.   And the earth was without form, and void; and darkness was upon the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God moved upon the face of the waters.

 And God said, Let there be light: and there was light.”

The creation narrative goes on.  It tells us that “God said” and He divided the waters.  And then, “God said” and there were trees and flowers and such.  And then, “God spoke” the sun, moon and stars into being.  Then after speaking everything else into existence, “God spoke” and He made man.

Words!

I thought about how I use words.  There are many instances in the Bible that God mentions our words.  He instructs us to use our words (our tongues) wisely and carefully. Do you remember reading in Ecclesiastes about a “Time for Everything?”  It starts out telling us that there is a time for everything and a season for every activity under heaven.  The one I’m interested in today is

“a Time to be silent and a Time to speak,”

Sometimes I need to speak out, particularly when I see injustice.  But that doesn’t mean I need to say everything that’s on my mind. 

The Bible tells us that it’s smart to limit our words. In Proverbs 17 it says.

 “The one who has knowledge uses words with restraint.”

and then a few verses later it tells us.  

“Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.”

Here’s a quote from Abraham Lincoln that says much the same thing.

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

Words!

What about God’s word, the Bible? 

Over the ages the Bible has sold more copies than any other book ever written.  I looked this up on the internet and all of the resources agreed that it’s sold over 6 billion copies.

Do you know how many people read those billions of Bibles that are out there?  I found that only 59% of Americans said they read their Bibles occasionally.  Guess that’s better than I thought.  Only 37% read it at least weekly, and only 11% read it every day. 

Think about that – the Bible is a letter from God to us.  It tells us about Him, about His love for us, about the future and the past.  It gives us instruction.  It gives us hope and comfort – and it’s not read.  That’s really sad isn’t it?

Psalm 12:6 tell us

“And the words of the Lord are flawless, 
    like silver purified in a crucible, 
    like gold refined seven times.”

Isn’t that beautiful.  The words of the Lord – flawless, silver, pure pure gold?

Hebrews 4:12 says

“For the word of God is alive 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.”

It’s alive, sharp, penetrating, judging our thoughts and attitudes.  That sounds pretty important.  If we don’t pay attention to God’s words, our words will not glorify Him.

I really want to make sure mine glorify my Father, how about you?

Hide and Seek

God may be hidden, but He is not hiding.

Hide-and-go-seek – remember the game, trying to find the best place, under the stairs, up the tree, or behind the garage? The idea was not to be found. I was never very good at that game.

I want you to know that God doesn’t play games with us. He doesn’t hide from us. His love and His care may be hidden from us by all of the world’s confusion and noise, pain and wickedness. But He promises us that He is not hiding from us. In His scripture we read:

. . . . He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too

will love him and show myself to him.”  John 14:21

God wants us to see Him, to know Him. He’s made his character known, not only in the Bible, but in the world around us.

For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities

—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, 

being understood from what has been made. . .   Romans 1:20

So if you wonder where He is, please know and trust that He’s there with you. Look at the rainbow and see his promise and His majesty. Listen to the word of truth when He says “I will love you.” And let yourself be found by Him.

In the Desert

Isaiah 35

The desert and the parched land will be glad;

the wilderness will rejoice and blossom. 

Like the crocus, it will burst into bloom;

it will rejoice greatly and shout for joy. 

The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,

the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;

they will see the glory of the LORD,

the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the feeble hands,

steady the knees that give way;

say to those with fearful hearts,

“Be strong, do not fear;

your God will come,

Do you see the splendor of God in the desert, in your desert? Can you see the twisted tree continue to live, to breathe life into your desert? Are you that tree, sprouting, living, or giving shelter? Are you that tree – continuing?

God has given us the beauty of the twisted to see how He works in our lives as well. We are twisted, but we can still live, and more than that - we can rejoice and blossom.

Sometimes we feel twisted and broken and we wonder if there will ever be anything to rejoice about. But God will strengthen our feeble hands, and steady our knees. He will say to our fearful hearts, “Be strong, do not fear:”

Who are you?

I’m told in the scriptures that we will know you by the works of your hand – by creation. So as I look around, I ask –

Are you like the mountains
piercing the sky,
proud and forbidding, where vast Glaciers lie?

Are you like those mountains – untouchably high?

Are you like the valleys
catching the snow,
the keepers of water for life down below?

Are you like the valleys – with life giving flow?

Are you like the river which grows in its quest
seaward and downward
from east and from west?

Are you like the river – never at rest?

Are you like the flower, the grass and the tree
protection and food for the bird and the bee?
Are you like these gifts – a refuge for me?

Oh God of the mountain, the river and glade
Oh God of the raindrops, the sunshine and shade
Oh God of the flowers, the springtime and fall
Oh God of creation – are you like them all

To high to reach
Too deep to Feel
To grand to know
If you are real.

© 2008 Diane Gruchow