Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday January 21, 2010

Dr. Tom Wallace, my mentor over many years shares the account of Dr. R.G. Lee's compliment to a host pastor with this gem:

"If I had ten heads and each of my ten heads had ten tongues and each of my ten tongues spoke ten languages, I still would not have adequate words to tell you how deeply I appreciate your hospitality."

We know that words have enormous power and wise people use words to help folks along the way. Unwise people do the opposite and use words to hinder, hurt and humiliate.

For most of my life I have been a student of words and the effect they have on people and on me. The Lord knows I have "eaten" enough words to feed the entire population of China.

Stephen King, a man whom most will concede is pretty good with words said one of the most profound statements on words I have ever read:

"The most important things are the hardest to say, because words diminish them."

To grasp the implications of the above think of the words, "I love you." If you are trying to express the depth of the way you feel, the words are inadequate due to there being so many emotions we humans wish to express when we say them. Often they are spoken lightly, they are spoken deceitfully and most often they are mouthed to manipulate. God uses a variation of the phrase to express His love for Adams fallen race, yet He removes all doubt about the sincerity of His words, as His words bring to the knowledgeable mind the graphic image of Calvary, where His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ submitted to anger, brutality, a bloody agonizing death because the kind of love God gives must be demonstrated to be grasped.

Judges in our country say concerning the words in our Constitution, "Mean what we say they mean." God puts no such nonsense on His word, but always conveys the true image of His meaning. Calvary. Notice how Paul expressed this truth concerning the limitation of words. Romans 8:26:

"Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered."

Solomon, said to be the wisest of all men said concerning words in Proverbs 25:11:

"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver."

The right word, spoken at the right time, spoken in the right spirit is pure gold.

Larry Lilly Copyright 2010 © Use with credit.

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