Word
When was the last time you heard or read something that made you say “wow, just wow!” in a good way. Lately I seem to be saying “wow, just wow” in total disbelieve of the insanity of some things but recently I read the following “The opening page of the Christian text for living, the Bible, tells us that the entire cosmos and every living creature in it are brought into being by words.” Eugene H Petersen Eat This Book – A Conversation In The Art Of Spiritual Reading.
“In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters. And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.” Genesis 1:1-3 (emphasis mine)
I knew God spoke the world into existence. I even wrote about it in my last Laced with Grace post but I was awed by suddenly grasping the power of words. In today’s world we throw words around and away. Not that we can bring worlds into existence but our words do set the tone of the conversation and of our interactions with people. Eugene Petersen goes on to say:
“St. John selects the term “word” to account, first and last, for what is the most characteristic about Jesus, the person at the revealed and revealing center of the Christian story.” Eat This Book- Conversation In The Art Of Spiritual Reading.
“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.” John 1:1 -4 (emphasis mine)
“Language, spoken and written is the primary means for getting us in on what is, on what God is and is doing. But it is language of a certain stripe, not words external to our lives, the sort used in grocery lists, computer manuals, French grammars, and basketball rule books. These are words intended, whether confrontationally or obliquely, to get inside us, to deal with our souls, to form a life that is congruent with the world that God has created, the salvation that he has enacted, and the community that he has gathered. Such writing anticipates and counts on a certain kind of reading, dog-with-a-bone kind of reading.” Eat This Book- Conversation In The Art Of Spiritual Reading.
So here are a few of Jesus’ words for us to chew on:
“When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said: “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule. “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.“You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought. “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat. “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for. “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world. “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family. “You’re blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God’s kingdom. “Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don’t like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.” Matthew 5:1-12 The Message (emphasis mine)
