Like speaking with Jesus

A picture paints a thousand words.  When you're devoid of linguistic ability, you have to rely heavily on gestures, facial and body expression to get the meaning across.  You look foolish as you painfuly attempt to act out the word you don't know or can't remember, something which not even your Grandma could guess in a game of Christmas charades.


Moses complained that his speech was not eloquent enough to address a Pharoah, yet God still sent him to Egypt to be His agent in freeing the Hebrew slaves.  The Corinthian church was exorted not to be fooled into thinking that cleverly-crafted sentences were what made the gospel into spiritual dynamite.  Paul came trembling and stuttering his words and still hearts were melted.

Is not our faith shown in our works?  Why then do we mistake it all too often for our words?  We proclaim Christ as Lord and Saviour and by professing our belief we are saved as this is an outward statement of an inward change (Romans 10:9).  But if words were the only means by which a heart were turned to God and a Christian transformed more into the likeness of Christ, then most of us would be left redundant.  Most of us can't string two correct sentences in English together, never mind gather the courage to preach like Peter on the day of Pentecost.

Our words need to be carefully thought out in certain situations.  All too often we let our tongues wag.  Yet Jesus also said that 'by this will all men know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another' (John 13:35)  James also exhorts believers to let their works be in agreement with their words.  Even if you do mess up your grammar, make outright blunders and get yourself tied up and twisted in a knot when sharing the gospel with someone, if the love of Christ is really rooted in you, then it will be visible.

We must speak.  By speaking the Spirit moves and saves.  But don't forget that salvation isn't for making you into a wordy theologian.  It's to transform the whole of you so that people will say they have talked with Jesus when they speak with you.