The Power of WordsSample

Speak Life

In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth (Genesis 1:1).

I know there are different Christian views of the timeline in which God created the world. Some believe it was a literal seven days, while others use the term “day” more figuratively. We’re not going to get into that today.

Today, I want to focus on the fact that God spoke, and things were created.

There is great power in words.

Jesus calmed a terrible storm with His words (Mark 4:35-41).

He healed a paralytic who had been sick for thirty-eight years with a word from His mouth (John 5:1-18).

He raised a sick girl back to life with the words, “Talitha Koum,” which meant, “Little girl, I say to you, get up” (Mark 5:37-43).

And He created all that we can see with the words spoken from His mouth.

We are created in God's image, and consequently, our words have great power, too.

We can use them to build up or tear down, to create or destroy.

As men, we can speak life into our wives and children, our employees and co-workers, and our friends and neighbours.

We can also use our words to cause significant damage to those same people. We need to take what we say seriously and understand that it is not benign; it can cause great good or great evil.

This week, we will focus on the good things we can do with our words.

May God continue transforming us into men who bring life into the world through our words.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me understand the great power my words hold. I know that I have been greatly affected by words spoken to me. Some have been cruel words, and I need your healing and forgiveness. Some have been words of blessing, and they have given me life. Help me to speak life into all that I meet. Guard my tongue. May I only speak what glorifies You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Reflection: How have people’s words affected you in the past? Can you remember a particularly hurtful word that someone said to you? Can you recall a particularly life-giving word that someone said to you? What kind of speaker do you want to be?