Find Hope: Matthew 1-4Sample

More Than Words

Our culture is word-obsessed. The old adage—sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me—has been replaced by the wisdom of Cher—words are like weapons, they wound sometimes.

Hate speech or bigotry are the worst crimes in our cultural moment. And there is something to that; words have power in and of themselves. But words are not enough—positively or negatively.

If Jesus had come proclaiming good news to the poor and freedom for the captives, recovery of sight for the blind, and then nothing changed, people would have rightly ignored him; his words would have felt empty and powerless. But Jesus' ministry from the beginning was always more than words. Never less than—he came to proclaim the kingdom and call people to repent. But the kingdom he proclaimed was one of restoration and healing found in Jesus.

His preaching was accompanied by love for the marginalized, healing for the sick and demon-possessed, and the good news of forgiveness through his self-sacrifice. As the apostle Paul puts it in 1 Corinthians 4 ”For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in power.”

Jesus' words and kingdom are a matter of power, here and now. Yes, we look forward to the day Jesus returns and we will enjoy the fullness of his kingdom—no sickness, no sin, no death, no grief. We don't get to tell Jesus when and how he will work. But remember what Jesus proclaimed—the Kingdom of heaven is at hand—that means now.

Don't settle for just words. Jesus' kingdom is more powerful than that. It may be power for healing or comfort or to put sin to death. Or it could even be power to endure, to rejoice in your suffering, but one thing is certain—Jesus' kingdom is more than just words.

Today, ponder this: Where in your life have you settled for words and stopped asking for Jesus' powerful presence?