The Word and Our Words

I think it’s safe to assume that the majority of my readers will agree that G-d created the universe and all that has ever been created by His spoken Word. I think all my readers would also agree that our own words are very important. I’d like to talk a bit about Who Yeshua is and how that relates to our use of words.
John 1 clearly states that the Word was with G-d and is G-d and through the Word everything that has been created was created. We understand “the Word” in this passage to speak of Yeshua, but what does Logos, translated here “word” mean anyway?

3056 logos log’-os from 3004; something said (including the thought); by implication, a topic (subject of discourse), also reasoning (the mental faculty) or motive; by extension, a computation; specially, (with the article in John) the Divine Expression (i.e. Christ):–account, cause, communication, X concerning, doctrine, fame, X have to do, intent, matter, mouth, preaching, question, reason, + reckon, remove, say(-ing), shew, X speaker, speech, talk, thing, + none of these things move me, tidings, treatise, utterance, word, work. see GREEK for 3004

To make a long definition short, Logos means “thought, reasoning, motive or word”. It is not difficult to see what this word means beacuse we understand that our own words reflect our thoughts, our reasoning and motives. We know that Yeshua said in Matthew 12:34 and Luke 6:45 out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. We know that our words are stored up in our hearts and in our minds so that they reflect our own thoughts, reasoning and motives.

As it is written in Genesis, G-d spoke and there it was. He created with His Word. He did not need to use His hands and feet, He did not need to physically do anything other than simply speak. Words carry power! Proverbs says “Death and life [are] in the power of the tongue“. We have all been victims of the careless words of another and we have all been guilty of speaking those words ourselves. We have all experienced just how powerful words are, both for good and for bad.

Now, because there is a growing debate over part of this subject I need to make myself clear. Has Yeshua always existed? Yes. Is He G-d made flesh? Well, that depends on how you define Yeshua as being G-d. Has G-d ever not had thought, reasonong, motive or word? If there ever was a time when He did not have His own logos then there would be a time when Yeshua, being the embodiment of His Word, did not exist. But Yeshua has always existed with G-d because He is of G-d. Just like my words are mine and reflect me, they are part of me. My words are an extension of myself. What you are reading is an extension of who I am. In like manner, Yeshua being the embodiement of HaShem’s words is part of HaShem. Colossians 2:9 tells us that “For in Him all the fullness of Deity dwells in bodily form“. The word used here Deity is the word theotes which means:

2320 theotes theh-ot’-ace from 2316; divinity (abstractly):–godhead. see GREEK for 2316

and the referenced word 2316 means

2316 theos theh’-os of uncertain affinity; a deity, especially (with 3588) the supreme Divinity; figuratively, a magistrate; by Hebraism, very:–X exceeding, God, god(-ly, -ward). see GREEK for 3588

So what does that mean? It means that what dwells within Yeshua is the fullness of divinity, or the fullness of deity. I believe that if the author were to mean “the full and complete being of HaShem” then they would have written HaShem or YHVH rather than divinity. Of course Yeshua is divine, for He is of G-d Himself. Being fully divine, yes! Being fully of HaShem, Yes! But HaShem being fully Yeshua, no. I think this often causes confusion and frustration among people.

So before I get put out of community with other believers for some heresy, understand that I do believe Yeshua is of G-d and that He is fully divine. But I do not believe He stands or sits in the place of G-d and I do not believe we are to worship Him above G-d. He is of G-d, the embodiment of the heart (thoughts/reasoning/motives) of G-d. He is wonderful and magnificent. But none is to be placed above G-d – ever. Yeshua sits at the right hand of G-d the Father, not in His seat. Yeshua worshiped the Father and taught His students to do the same. I would encourage my readers to just read the book of John and note where Yeshua speaks of Himself being the embodiement of the word/thought/reason/motive of HaShem. There is no mystery, it is very clear. Then after reading John, pick another book and try reading it in that light as well. Life is so much easier when we simply read what the words say and don’t try to put something between the lines that isn’t supported.

Yeshua is the embodied word/reason/thought/motive of the One All Powerful and Righteous G-d, Creator of the Universe. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.” And what exactly did He speak? What He spoke became flesh and dwelled among us to reveal His light (give life) to us – His creation. “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!”

Okay, back to where I was – “We have all experienced just how powerful words are, both for good and for bad.” Proverbs speaks a lot about the use of our words. If we read Proverbs we will find that sometimes we fall into the category of fool, scoffer, wicked, or some other such status all from the use of our words. The heart of man is deep and sometimes something unlovely comes from it. This is when we need to take captive every thought and submit it to Yeshua – the Word. If we do this then our words will not reflect every thought but they will reflect what is truly in our hearts and what has been filtered through our hearts/minds. In this way our words are an accurate reflection of us.

It is the fool who speaks rashly, as Proverbs tells us. “Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.” There is much talk in Scripture about making rash vows and speaking before thinking. I know this because I, myself, have too often been guilty of speaking recklessly. And on that note, there is a blog entry written by a friend, that speaks of getting a taste of your own medicine. I have been reckless with my words more often than I care to admit. Yet my Father allows me to taste my own medicine, to be given my measure for measure, so I can see what kind of injury I have inflicted on others around me.

Our words reflect our hearts, I cannot make that statement clearly or often enough.

Our words can be used for good or for evil,

She opens her mouth in wisdom, And the teaching of kindness is on her tongue. Prov 31:26
The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, But the mouth of the wicked conceals violence. Prov 10:11

spoken rashly or with much control,

There is one who speaks rashly like the thrusts of a sword, But the tongue of the wise brings healing. Prov 12:18
He who restrains his words has knowledge, And he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Prov 17:27

well thought or no thought at all,

The tongue of the wise makes knowledge acceptable, But the mouth of fools spouts folly. Prov 15:2
He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles. Prov 21:23
Words from the mouth of a wise man are gracious, while the lips of a fool consume him Ecc 10:12

bringing injury or healing.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit. Prov 18:21
Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. Prov 16:24

G-d is careful with His words. By them His servants are warned, instructed and corrected. If we truly want to reflect our Father in Heaven, we must use our words as carefully as He does. If Yeshua is the embodiment of His logos, and we claim to walk in His ways, then we need to be watchful of our own words. Words can properly be used for rebuke and instruction and those times can hurt, but they bring life. We must not speak words that bring death and destruction to others, for that is not what our Father does. His words bring light and life, so must ours.

Now, because we’re human and we fall oh so short, what do we do when we’ve fallen into the pit of rash, evil, or foolish words? We must do teshuvah, or stop, turn from our sin and back toward the right path, ask forgiveness, and not return to that sin again. Teshuvah means to turn away from one thing and toward another, it often means the same as repent.

A brother offended {is harder to be won} than a strong city, And contentions are like the bars of a citadel. Prov 18:19 When we have offended a brother or sister, we need to make it right. We need to humbly present ourselves to them and ask for their forgiveness, acknowledging the wrong we’ve done and the hurt we’ve caused. Yeshua teaches us that we should not even present our offerings to HaShem if we are aware that a brother has something against us without making that thing right. Often times we say, “That’s not what I intended” or “I didn’t mean to hurt you” and with those words we hurt more. Those words are justifications for our own foolishness or hurtfulness. In effect we are saying “You have no right to be hurt because that’s not what I meant by my words.” But it matters little if we speak rashly and thoughtlessly. The bottom line is that when words are used, they either bring life or death. When we spread words of death, we are responsible for the outcome – intentional or otherwise. The process of restoring relationships is humbling, to say the least. But, Hinei ma tov u-ma nayim shevet achim gam yachad! Oh how sweet it is when brothers live together in unity! (Psalm 133) Hinei!

And what do we do when we are the “brother offended”? “He who conceals an offense promotes love but he who harps on it can separate even close friends” Prov 17:9 tells us. We are to forgive as we are forgiven. Forgiveness promotes love. But what do we do when the offender doesn’t ask for forgiveness, or even recognize that they have offended us? We forgive them. Forgiveness doesn’t depend on the offender asking (or begging) for forgiveness. We need to forgive and let it go, not giving in to the same sin and using the “measure for measure” principle. That is HaShem’s job to dole out, not ours. Vengengance is His, not ours and it is much sweeter when He is in control. We need to forgive, for if we do not forgive then we will not be forgiven. OUCH! Matthew 6:14-15 tells us “For if you forgive others for their transgressions, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, then your Father will not forgive your transgressions.” And we know that Yeshua instructed Peter that we must forgive often, “even seventy times seven” times.

When we’ve been offended we need to determine if it is wise to let the offender know that we’re offended. Sometimes it’s wise just to let it go and forgive them in peace. For concealing an offence promotes love. Other times it is a loving thing to do to let the offender know “Hey, that hurt”. But be gentle as doves and as wise as serpents. It is not always wise, or right, to give vent to every little insult. But if a friendship has been breached, unity requires that the breach be fixed and that will require working it out together. Hinei ma tov u-ma nayim shevet achim gam yachad! Oh how sweet it is when brothers live together in unity! Hinei!

Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips. Psalm 141:3
For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Luke 6:45 and Matthew 12:34
Create in me a clean heart, G-d, and renew a right spirit within me. Psalm 51:10
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14

May we walk in His ways, using our words wisely and in a careful way. May our words properly reflect Who it is that we serve and Who it is that indwells us as believers in Yeshua the Messiah. And when we fall, may we bring Him glory and honor by humbling ourselves and doing teshuvah – restoring unity among fellow believers. May we wear His Name in such a way that it brings Him glory, honor, pleasure and joy!