God and Words

Jim:

1 Kings 19:9-18
We might expect the presence of God to be found only in the cataclysmic events, the big and powerful experiences. But Elijah recognized God in sheer silence (vv. 12-13). The truth is that we simply can not make assumptions about what God is up to. Faithful obedience requires us to understand that God will do what God does and that it will often be different that what we might expect. On the other hand, Elijah knew right away that God was in the silence, which leads me to believe that if we pay attention we, too, can and will recognize God’s presence.

Ephesians 4:17-32
I appreciate the exhortation in verse 29, “Let no evil talk come out of your mouths, but only what is useful for building up…” As children we learned the adage “sticks and stones may break my bones but words can never hurt me.” The truth, of course, is closer to the words sung by the band INXS, “Words are like weapons, sharper than knives…” Words can hurt, can do all sorts of harm. Yelling “fire!” in a crowded movie theater is so dangerous that it is not considered protected speech by the courts. Former Beatle George Harrison once saw a sign in front of a church that read “Gossip: the Devil’s Radio” and because of his experiences as a public figure who had suffered at the hands of gossip he wrote a song about it called “The Devil’s Radio.” Words can do all sorts of damage. Paul exhorts his readers to say nothing harmful, but to use only words that are useful in building up, creating, strengthening the community of faith. It is helpful, too, to remember that according to Genesis and John it was by the divine Word that God created all that is, and that according to the gospels Jesus is the Word of God made flesh. We honor that Word when our own words are used to create and to build up, not to destroy or tear down.

John 6:15-27
In verse 20 when Jesus identifies himself to the startled disciples his words in Greek are “I am; do not be afraid.” Of course when Moses asks God by what name the people of Israel should know the divine presence God answers, “I am.” Knowing that God exists, that “God is,” should come as a great comfort to us all. Elijah was bolstered in his work as a prophet knowing that “God was,” and the disciples were offered comfort by the fact that “Jesus was.” God is present to us as well, often in very surprising ways. Our challenge is to live as God’s people, using our words to build up community and walking in the way of the Lord.