How many of those words you have listened to are truly worthy of your time and attention?
How many of those words are going to impact your life in a meaningful way?
When was the last time someone spoke to you in an eloquent ‘I hung on every word’ kind of way?
For the matter when was the last time you spoke to someone that they hung on every word?
If you have been running low on answers and your faith seems battered and weakened, maybe it is because you have been listening to the wrong people or reading the wrong words.
The Bible tells a story of a great leader who sought answers to some of life’s most difficult questions. In I Kings chapter 10, the Queen of Sheba pays a visit to King Solomon:
The queen of Sheba heard about Solomon and his connection with the Name of God. She came to put his reputation to the test by asking tough questions. . . . Solomon answered everything she put to him—nothing stumped him. When the queen of Sheba experienced for herself Solomon's wisdom . . . it took her breath away. She said to the king, "It's all true! Your reputation for accomplishment and wisdom that reached all the way to my country is confirmed. I wouldn't have believed it if I hadn't seen it for myself; they didn't exaggerate! Such wisdom and elegance—far more than I could ever have imagined. Lucky the men and women who work for you, getting to be around you every day and hear your wise words firsthand! I Kings 1:1-9 The Message
We don’t know exactly what Solomon said (Although the wisdom literature written by Solomon gives a snap shot) nor do we know the questions that were asked. But you have to give that the reaction by the Queen reveals an impressive performance by the King.
Compare that then to the spoken record of Jesus. We know more words of Solomon than we do of Christ! Consider that all that the gospels report of what Jesus said, in private and in public, Jesus could have uttered in two hours. Think of it! To be able to say in two hours enough to change the whole of mankind!
No words ever written or spoken can compare with those spoken by Jesus.Those who heard Him speak said, “We have never heard anyone talk like this!” (John 7:46)
One thing is sure: Jesus’ words are packed with power and given the chance will make a dramatic difference in our lives. In case you have forgotten how impactful the words of Christ can be, let me take you back to a moment in Jesus’ ministry in Matthew chapter 8:
We find the disciples in a boat on the Sea of Galilee in a storm. Jesus is with them in the boat.
The Bible says the storm was terrible and that the waves were breaking into the boat (v 24). The disciples were fighting the storm with all they had, but they were not getting any help from Jesus because He was sound asleep.
We have the historical perspective to know that everything turned out okay on this boat trip, but I want you to think about the events of the evening. If we had been in that boat fighting for our lives, bailing water, wrestling with the oars, and fighting with the sail, we would have been screaming at Jesus! We would not have cared about how tired He was, we would not have wanted him to quote a Psalm:I can lie down and sleep soundly because you, LORD, will keep me safe. Psalm 4:8 CEV.
We would just want Him to wake up and do something! In effect the disciples were saying,
“Lord, don’t you even care that we are going to drown?” (Mark 4:38) Don’t you even care about our problem – our situation? Can you relate?
Have you found yourself caught in the storms of life? Shifting emotional winds pulling you in different directions? Been knocked to your feet by a hard crashing wave? Have things become so confusing that you no longer are sure what is right? Have you grown so tired that you don’t care anymore? Have you felt like crying out, “Don’t you even care about me God?”
If so then listen up.
In the midst of this storm on the Sea of Galilee, Jesus woke up. He lifted His head from the cushion and spoke. “Quiet Down!” is all that He said (Mark 4:39). I wonder if the disciples thought He was talking to them? We know the wind and the waves were not confused because they immediately quieted down. Jesus did not wave his hands, or twitch His nose, He simply spoke a couple words.
Truth is Jesus words are just as powerful today as they were then. When Jesus said, “Quiet Down!” he was quieting the storm, but even more so, He was sending a direct message to His disciples. Jesus was in effect saying, “See, I do care!”
That is an important message for us. If you can begin to understand, that it doesn’t matter who Jesus is speaking to in Scripture, He is also speaking to you and me. Every sentence has significance.
Woven through all of His words are the answers to life’s most important questions. The words that don’t seem relevant to us are only that way because it doesn’t meet our needs at the point in our life. Someday those same words may be exactly what we need to hear. Paul made this point very clear to Timothy when he wrote to him and said, “The Lord will give you understanding in all these things.” (2 Timothy 2:7)
'All these things’ were the practical issues of living life as a follower of Christ. Paul was telling us that God has not left us to grope about in the dark, to stagger and stumble around in a state of confusion. Jesus’ words are packed with power and given the chance will make a dramatic difference in our lives. Jesus’ words calm storms and answer questions, but the power of Christ’s words are not in you because you have heard them. The words need to dwell in you in order for them to have power.
Maybe you need the kind of jolt the disciples received. Maybe you need to be reminded of the power of Jesus and His words. I imagine after the storm, the disciples were a lot more attentive to the things that Jesus said. Perhaps you need to become a bit more attentive. Perhaps it is time to once again examine, study, meditate on the words of Christ.
If you will allow the words of Christ to fill you ...
Your life will be changed.
You will have your hope restored.
Your joy will return and you will discover that your faith has been refilled.
A PRAYER FOR YOU:
God we are grateful that you love us enough to not leave us as we are. As we come to you empty, broken, needy and you promise to provide to us all that we need. We so want life to come with an instructional manual, but then when we learn you have given it to us – we casually toss it aside as a piece of ancient literature. Help us to rediscover this truth revealed in your word. God as you have called us into relationship with you, help us to become part of the conversation as we turn again to reading your word – your love letter – your instructions for our life. They are wonderful words designed to satisfy our souls and fill us til we overflow. AMEN
*** if you have never read the Bible and want to: contact me and I will make sure you get a copy of Jesus' words to read ***
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