Valuable Words

God's word has the power to transform our lives, to enable us to walk in triumph from the power of sin.   Jesus said in John 17:
14 I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.  As God's truth enters our mind and we meditate on that truth and seek to apply it and live by it, we can experience life transformation.  We have that daily choice to speak words that are consistent with God's word or to walk in the ways of the world, and engage in idle words, misuse of the tongue, and actions that are not pleasing to God.   So important that we recognize that our words can bring life and encourage, or can tear down and not bring glory to God.
We have received the life-altering truth of the Lord Jesus Christ, who transformed the life of the apostle Paul, who wrote in 1st Timothy 1:
(3) I urged you when I went into Macedonia--remain in Ephesus that you may charge some that they teach no other doctrine, 4 nor give heed to fables and endless genealogies, which cause disputes rather than godly edification which is in faith. 5 Now the purpose of the commandment is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith, 6 from which some, having strayed, have turned aside to idle talk...


Did you hear this? A rare original copy of President Abraham Lincoln's Emancipation Proclamation sold Tuesday at a New York auction for more than $2 million.   It's the second-highest price ever paid for a copy of the proclamation, signed by Lincoln himself.   Two years ago, one owned by the late Sen. Robert Kennedy was sold for $3.8 million.

Seth Kaller, who is a dealer in American historic documents and expert on the Emancipation Proclamation; who has handled eight signed copies, was quoted by the Associated Press as saying that the price and the one for the Kennedy copy are the highest ever paid for the proclamation, reflecting a "growing appreciation for documents that capture the most important moments in our history,"

At $2.1 million dollars for the document and over 1700 words, that comes to about $1200 a word.   Those are some valuable words, and they changed the status of American citizens and the destiny of a race of people.

The question for each of us is:  how valuable are your words?   God's words lead to life, and by accepting His word, we can experience freedom from the bondage of sin, which keeps us apart from God.    And, He has entrusted each of us to speak in a manner that is consistent with His love and His truth.  When you consider the number of words that we speak in a day, we have to evaluate how many we are wasting - if we are constantly speaking idle words, then I believe we might just be falling short regarding the use of our tongue and our communication that God would intend for us.    Lincoln's words are still valuable - they were life-giving and life-altering...perhaps God will use something that you write or speak to help bring life-transforming truth.