After reading the title, you've probably already finished the rest of the little catchphrase that I made us of for today. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me, or something to that effect. Of course, we all also know that such a statement isn't true. We tend to heal pretty well from the injuries of sticks and stones. But sometimes the injuries of words remain for a lifetime.
That's the power of communication. That imagined slight that someone sent our way sticks in our mind, turning over and over, festering deep inside. Or, on the positive side, that good word that someone said to us or about us that rejuvenates us and motivates us to keep going. In some ways, that simply doesn't make sense. How can something so insubstantial as a word or a group of words have such a tremendous impact on us?
That's where I remember a few words that a man by the name of John wrote many, many years ago. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." God chose to communicate to us human beings through His words, spoken by men like prophets, for a long time. But the, when the fullness of time had come, God clothed His Word with our very own human flesh and blood. Now the Word would not be something that merely touched our ears, but could physically touch us, just like the proverbial sticks and stones.
A significant part of the Christian faith deals with the impact of words. Words tell us what God desires and commands from us, and also show us how we fail to do these things. Words tell us how God has chosen to rescue us, and the form of that rescue, in His own Word becoming flesh and blood. And that then gives a greater meaning to us when we think about how else our Lord communicates with us. Jesus communes with us by giving us His own flesh and blood, to eat and to drink, in the holy supper we celebrate. If words alone can touch us so deeply, how much more so when those words are connected to a truly physical presence as well?
God communicates with us. The message He truly wants to communicate with us is that He has rescued us and made us fully right with Him. Those are the kind of joyful words that give us hope and strength when we face the difficult road that lies ahead of us.
That's the power of communication. That imagined slight that someone sent our way sticks in our mind, turning over and over, festering deep inside. Or, on the positive side, that good word that someone said to us or about us that rejuvenates us and motivates us to keep going. In some ways, that simply doesn't make sense. How can something so insubstantial as a word or a group of words have such a tremendous impact on us?
That's where I remember a few words that a man by the name of John wrote many, many years ago. "The Word became flesh and dwelt among us." God chose to communicate to us human beings through His words, spoken by men like prophets, for a long time. But the, when the fullness of time had come, God clothed His Word with our very own human flesh and blood. Now the Word would not be something that merely touched our ears, but could physically touch us, just like the proverbial sticks and stones.
A significant part of the Christian faith deals with the impact of words. Words tell us what God desires and commands from us, and also show us how we fail to do these things. Words tell us how God has chosen to rescue us, and the form of that rescue, in His own Word becoming flesh and blood. And that then gives a greater meaning to us when we think about how else our Lord communicates with us. Jesus communes with us by giving us His own flesh and blood, to eat and to drink, in the holy supper we celebrate. If words alone can touch us so deeply, how much more so when those words are connected to a truly physical presence as well?
God communicates with us. The message He truly wants to communicate with us is that He has rescued us and made us fully right with Him. Those are the kind of joyful words that give us hope and strength when we face the difficult road that lies ahead of us.
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