The Last Word

Grand Sweep Daily Reading: I Samuel 16, 17, 18

I Samuel 16:7 (NIV)
7 But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The Lord does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.

John 1:1-5 (NIV)
1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through Him all things were made; without Him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In Him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Revelation 19:11-13 (NIV)
11 I saw heaven standing open and there before me was a white horse, whose rider is called Faithful and True. With justice He judges and makes war. 12 His eyes are like blazing fire, and on His head are many crowns. He has a name written on Him that no one knows but He himself. 13 He is dressed in a robe dipped in blood, and His name is the Word of God.

Good morning!

Are you the type of person who always has to have the last word? When I was growing up, my father always had the last word at our house. We learned very early not to question or dispute him. If we chose to disagree and voice our opinion, our home became an unhappy haven rather quickly. When I was learning to drive, the law said that I must wear a seatbelt and my passengers were also required to wear a seat belt. I didn’t have the self-confidence to believe that I might not have an automobile accident and I did not want to risk another person’s life. My father never wore a seat belt. He thought they were cumbersome and useless. I remember a time when he was going to let me drive the car on our family vacation. I got into the driver’s seat and put my seatbelt on. Looking at him, I said, “Daddy, I need you to fasten your seatbelt. I will feel better about driving this car if I know you are protected.” He replied, “Then you are not driving.” That was his last word on the subject. Thank goodness my mother always wore her seatbelt. I might not have ever learned to drive!

The words we speak and the words we hear have a profound effect on our lives. God gave us the gift of self-expression. We learn to speak words from listening to the words of the people who surround us. Children emulate the words of their parents, much to their dismay, at times. Our wee ones may repeat something they heard us say, when we didn’t know they were listening. Have you ever spoken a harsh word, only to hear it repeated by an innocent child, with the same inflection they heard coming out of your mouth? As we continue to receive education, we learn to read and write words. We study grammar in school. While we define and refine our sentence structure on the printed page, our words begin to define us. Words have the power to set the tone for the way we choose to live our lives. Take some time today to think about the words you say. Do they accurately reflect the condition of your life?

Scripture teaches that in the beginning, the Word lives. He is the only Word that matters. Our simple and finite words will die with us one day. Our tongues will become silent, our thoughts a fleeting memory. As life passes into death, there will be only one Word that saves. That Word is Jesus. Death does not have the last Word, thanks be to the resurrection power of our Lord! On this Good Friday, take time to remember and mourn the suffering and physical death of our everlasting Word. May we find our hope in knowing His Word conquered the grave! His Word is true. He will return one day, coming out of the clouds on a white horse and all people will know His Word is faithful and true.

Jesus Christ will have the last Word. He is the beginning and the end, the Alpha and Omega. His Word is the only Word worth knowing. When we cry to out Jesus, He hears and answers our heart’s desire! He heals our wounded and broken lives. He restores us, once and for all. Jesus walks with us as we experience new life in Him. When we place our hope in Jesus, we have His Word that He we will be us forever, even to the end of the age.

There is only one Word that you need to know today, and that Word is Jesus.

Grace and peace,

Deb Spaulding
www.songofdeborah.com

Pray for: the Word to become a real and living presence in your life. Jesus died for you. His passion and compassion for a lost and dying world is poured out upon the cross of Calvary today. The Word was made flesh and he dwelled among us. He is the sinless Lamb of God, and it is His Word that pays the ransom for your soul this morning. He will rescue you, if you cry out to Him in faith. Jesus! Jesus! Jesus!
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