The Power of Words
Creation of the World through the Spoken Word
Day 1 - God said, “Let there be light and called the light Day and the darkness Night” (verses 3-5),
Day 2 - God said, “Let there be a firmament in the midst of the waters and God called the firmament Heaven” (verses 6-8),
Day 3 - God said, “Let the waters under the heaven be gathered together unto one place, and let the dry land appear...”. Thus, The Earth and the seas were formed along with vegetation, herb yielding seed and fruit (verses 9-13),
Day 4 - God said, “Let there be lights in the firmament of the heaven to divide the day from the night...and seasons and the sun, moon, and stars” (verses 14-19),
Day 5 - God said, “Let the waters bring forth abundantly
the moving creature that hath life, and fowl that may fly above the earth... after their kind, and blessed them” (verses 20-23),
Day 6 - God said, “Let the earth bring forth the living creature after his kind...and God said, Let us make man in our image, after our likeness: and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea,and over the fowl of the air, and over the cattle, and over all the earth, and over every creeping thing that creepeth upon the earth...And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it...” (verses 24-31).
Creation marks the absolute beginning of the temporal and material world. “And God said,” in verse 3, is the first of a highly structured series of succinct and formulaic sentences expressing the creative commands of God. Creation is accomplished by His word. Each command consists of the following:
An announcement |
“God Said” |
A creative command |
“Let there be” |
A summary word of accomplishment |
“And it was so” |
A descriptive word of accomplishment |
“The earth brought forth” |
A descriptive blessing |
“God blessed” |
An evaluative approval |
“It was good” |
A concluding temporal framework |
For example, numbering each day. |
In the Book of John, we find Scripture that further supports the supreme power of words. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” This signifies the perfect fellowship between God the Father and God the Son in eternity. ‘The Word was God’ emphasizes distinction in the Godhead and this phrase stresses the essential unity. Jesus Christ was with God in the beginning and will continue to be throughout all eternity. ‘Word’ means logos, which is one of the most important titles for Christ. The idea behind this title embodied God’s revelation of Himself to humanity. Thus, God’s plan to redeem mankind from the curse of the law was fulfilled by Jesus Christ. “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Choose Your Words Carefully
God is continually reminding us, in His word, to be selective in how we speak to others. Our choice of words can build up, but can also break down. Chapter three in the Book of James offers Godly counsel on the dangers of the tongue. In this chapter of Scripture, there are several lessons worth mentioning –
1. The tongue is the primary teaching tool and none of us can control it sufficiently (verses 1-2).
2. The tongue represents a system (the world) of iniquity that sets on fire the whole course of life, and is even set on fire by Satan (verse 6).
3. We are made in the image of God. To curse people and yet bless God is inconsistent. Though the fall of mankind has marred that image or likeness, it still exists (verse 9).
4. Godly wisdom is necessary in a teacher for effective communication. The teacher must exhibit a meek and practical application of the truth. You cannot teach what you do not live! (verse 13).
5. Two wisdoms are expounded by teachers. The one from God is pure and promotes peace, ending in righteousness. However, the other is demonic and natural, visible in the teacher as jealousy and ambition. The result of such teaching is evil living and confusion (verses 14 to 18).
“That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world
(Philippians 2:15).”
To shine as lights in this world, we (Christians) must be blameless – no finger of accusation can justly be pointed at us – and harmless – morally pure. If we are participating in partying and bickering, as the Philippians were, this cannot be held true. As the sons of God, who live in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation (generation), the Apostle Paul teaches us to be without rebuke. That is, without incurring spiritual damage.
Our proper place as Christians is among the lost. For only in such a position can true witness be borne and influence for the gospel to be effectively exerted. We shine as lights in the world if we remain ‘without rebuke’ in that we suffer no moral damage by contact with the unsaved. Just as a star is readily noticeable in the dark sky, so healthy Christian lives stand out in testimony among the lost and give credence to one’s witness.
“His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord (Matthew 25:21).”
This Scripture confirms continued service because of good stewardship over a few things. Be a great communicator along the way! Know the power of words.
Dee Stewart is editor of Christian Fiction News and also hosts Atlanta’s Third Thursdays: Altartainment Event Series. She's written for Spirit Led Woman, Gospel Today, and Precious Times Magazines. Her short story, "Straddling the Fence," is featured in Infuze Magazine's Best of 2005 Christian Shorts Anthology. She can be found at Gospel Fiction dot com.This month she's hosting a Storyteller's workshop at her site.
