In many of the professional and
parental roles that I’ve been blessed in with children the phrase “Use your
words” has been an appropriate one. Of course the words I wanted them to use
were ones I modeled for them, be it labels for people or things, greetings, actions,
manners or requests. Some of these kids needed to start by using signs,
specific movements with their hands and fingers that represented the word they
were trying to express. In the beginning even an imitation of animal noises or other
silly sounds was a step of progress for them. At times I would duly reward any
of the attempts they used to declare or ask, even if they were incomplete or
unintelligible. If I felt they could be more precise I encouraged and sometimes
insisted that they do so. Ultimately when the expression was sufficient to get
the desired result, we were both happy.
Imagine how God feels when we “use our
words”. When God first placed Adam with
the animals, it says in Genesis 2:19 that God gave Adam free reign to name them
whatever he wanted to, and that’s what they were then called. Wow! What
expressive authority God issued to Adam right away.
I speculate that God is pleased when
the sounds, signs and words we speak are actually what He has modeled for us. But
I am certain He wants them to be meaningful to us. Some of the early imitative
sounds that kids make have no meaning to them or for them. They don’t yet have
an understanding, just an ability to repeat.
For example, Jesus left us a modeled
prayer. We call it the Lord’s Prayer. It is a definitive example of expressing
ourselves to God. But without a conscious understanding or attention to its
words it would surely be nothing more than a repetitive bunch of sounds. But
when declared personally, faithfully, committed and enhanced with Spirit-led
inclusions of people and issues, it can be the most holy “declaration of
dependence” we could ever utter.
I was moved by the incident that
Ruthann described in Tuesday’s post, Walking the Tightrope in which Nik Wallenda’s prayers and
praise were audible as he endured a courageous challenge. May the Lord bless
him richly for lifting up the name of Jesus publicly. We can “use our words” by
contacting ABC News and thanking them for including Nik’s audible prayers in
the ABC reports. Just go to: http://abcnews.go.com/Site/page?id=3271346&cat=ABCNews.com%20comments
Yesterday while out for my morning
prayer walk, my friend and I were in deep, though quiet, audible prayer when we
came upon a house where two large chalkboards had been erected, one on the porch,
and the other in the side yard. On both of these signs were words that lifted
Jesus up publicly. On one was scripture. On the other was a challenge to choose
Jesus on this side of the grave because it’s the only chance we get. My friend
and I were very moved seeing this bold demonstration of “using their words” to
proclaim Jesus publicly in their neighborhood. My friend and I were seriously humbled
and spoke words of prayer and blessing over the people who lived within.
Little more than a half hour later, I unexpectedly
met up with another friend and we decided to visit at an outside café nearby.
By God-incidence, while we were chatting together about the Lord two women
strode by and my friend called out to one of them enthusiastically by name.
They greeted with a hug and my friend introduced her to me using the
description, “This is the lady who puts signs out about Jesus!” I was overjoyed
to meet this gutsy soul who I had just prayed for. And yet another opportunity
arose for us to all speak publicly about the Lord. In the discussion that
followed I recognized that the woman’s motivation for putting out her signs was
compassion for the lost.
Isn’t
that just what Jesus’ Words were inspired by? His compassion.
Oh that we would continually “use our
words” and HIS words to boldly proclaim Jesus and His great compassion.
Gratefully HIS,
Jan
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