The Keys to The Kingdom
The Keys to The Kingdom
Being good stewards of the words we’ve been given.
by Cait MacHutchon
Today I had to go to the immigration office. Which, for any ex-pat, is a test in perseverance. As I stood in line with a crowd of people, all sweating from the heat, I tried to remain thankful. I thought about previous years when I didn’t know the building or didn’t have knowledge of the local culture and how desperate and powerless I felt. As I approached the counter, I spoke the local language to the local behind the desk, convinced it would make the process faster and make my case more clear. While there were just as many questions and loops to jump through, today I felt capable. Not because the systems in place were any easier, but because I carried with me a set of powerful tools that helped me to navigate relationships and barriers more profoundly. I had words. Local words.
I have been thinking about words a lot lately, specifically Jesus’s words. His words, always perfect and always what we need. In this season we have all been learning that presence matters, listening matters, but when the opportunity arises for us to say something, what matters are the words that we speak.
In this season we have all been learning that presence matters, listening matters, but when the opportunity arises for us to say something, what matters are the words that we speak.
It seems attainable for me to understand the power of words when I am struggling through learning another language. Mastering the local tongue is key to interpreting the culture and meeting people. I choose my words carefully, and often slowly. Every single word that comes to my mind and mouth feels significant, not rushed or hasty.
Words should be carried around in our mouths and hearts as though they are heavy and meaningful because they are. They are the bricks that can build a bridge, support a friend, smash a window, or harm a brother. Provers 18:21 says, “Our words are powerful”. Scripture shouts that our words hold great power and that we should use them with caution and grace. And yet, do I treat them with that power? If I’m being honest, not as often as I want to. Words are often not laid down carefully but rather flippantly spoken and flung out into the world. I lose my cool. I gossip. I complain.
As James talks about in the section labeled “When you open your mouth” (MSG), our tongues are rudders, steering us into the waters of life. If steered correcting by a wise captain, you can enter the strongest storms and winds” (James 3). We must learn to control the rudder of our words in a way that allows us to navigate with power, wisdom, and strength in the storms of life. With just a word, Jesus stopped a raging storm. Sometimes I’m able to bring about calm to a storm, telling it to stop with the same authority of Christ. Other times, I guide myself into a hurricane, my rash words only adding chaos to the tempest. How do we do train and find ourselves able to do this? By remembering that the very Creator of this tongue and this heart has given us the most powerful Word.
“For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart” (Hebrews 4:12 NIV). The Bible is powerful. It can bring power and life into our words taming and healing the tongue, and transforming the very heart in which these words dwell. As we meditate and feast on God’s Word more, our words can be a key to the culture of God’s kingdom for others. So that they can know who Jesus is, through you. Like our Father who spoke and brought life, who spoke and created beautiful things, we too have that ability.
Let our hearts be steadfast in Him. Let our mouths be filled with praise. Let our tongues give glory only to God. Let our words heal and our testimonies build bridges into God’s kingdom.