Words of Blessings
Isaiah 50:4-9a and James 3:1-12
Seventeenth Sunday after Pentecost
September 15, 2024
It’s hard to tell if James is frustrated in his beginning words of our scripture today, or if there may even be a bit of sarcasm.
It has been my experience, however, that it is true when one stands in the pulpit, they are held at a higher standard of conduct. While we who stand here are also human, we are also a visible example to others, and yet isn’t this true of all of us?
As James points out, we also, in our humanness, are prone to mistakes. While I readily admit that knowing that I stand here in this pulpit, I work harder at what I say to others than maybe I used to do in the past. I also am especially careful not to display any driver’s rage in fear it might be someone who knows me!
As a teenager, I clearly remember my Daddy cautioning me on what I say. “Once it’s out of your mouth,” he said, “you can’t take it back.” Words of wisdom that I still carry with me today.
James cautions us today on how we use our powerful tongues, which are so hard to control, and he gives several examples in this scripture.
The one that I have heard most of my life is how we should “bridle our tongues,” but in reading this scripture, the one that I liked was the reference to ships. “Though they are so large that it takes strong winds to drive them, they are guided by a very small rudder wherever the will of the pilot directs.”
What we say can be so powerful! Words can carry strong implications, even though our tongue is a small member of our body.
I’ll admit, I am a lot like my mother, and while she would never have done anything to hurt anyone’s feelings, she was sort of one of those we would say, whatever came up in her mind, came out.
Over the years, I’ve had to learn to be more aware of what other people are going through, what they have gone through, or what they are anticipating they may have to go through.
We tend to respond to people from our own experiences, not realizing that someone’s upbringing may have been totally different.
I don’t know if any of you are NFL fanatics, but I love to watch a good football game, whether it is college or the NFL. This past week, I was watching Tampa Bay and Washington play while I was reading. (For the record, I can multitask!). As the Buccaneers were going into huddle, I noticed on the back of one of the helmets the quote, “Stop Hate.”
I thought that was pretty cool! Then I saw another that read, “Inspire Change.”
I began to look for whatever phrases I could read, and you know if you have ever watched a game and you are trying to see something, the camera never goes there!
Finally, I was able to read the quarterback’s helmet which read, “It Takes All of Us.”
These are powerful words! Now think what you want to of the NFL, but you have to admit these are good, positive words that are going to be displayed on television all season. That’s a long time for people to notice and read, not to mention when they are being interviewed and talking with fans.
Like these football players, James is cautioning us to be careful in how we use our words when we speak. “From the mouth come blessing and cursing,” James says. So the question is how do we pilot our ship; and how do we allow God to pilot our ship.
Are we managing our tongue to say words of blessings, or are we saying words that are hurtful? It is a choice we make.
Looking at our Old Testament scripture, the writer of Isaiah points out, “The Lord God has given me the tongue of a teacher, that I may know how to sustain the weary with a word.”
“Morning by morning he waken – wakens my ear to listen as those who are taught. The Lord God has opened my ear, and I was not rebellious, I did not turn backward.”
When we speak words that are positive, we bless others. Speaking a kind word can sometimes be easy and obvious, and other times, we may be oblivious to the need of another.
This is why we depend on the Lord to open our ears and direct us to whom and how we speak to others. God knows the needs of everyone, and opens our ears so that we are able to listen for what we are to say. In this way, God is the pilot of our ship.
Many years ago as an adult, I was taking piano lessons from Maurine Blankenship, here in Valdosta. Some of you may have known her. She was a wonderful, sweet elderly lady, and a great piano teacher.
She shared with me a book written by her mother titled, “God is Speaking….are You Listening?”
In the opening page of her little book, Maurine’s mother is nervous about how she will begin to tell her story, and she recounts, “God is continually telling me to be myself, not to try to be like somebody else. She writes, “Keep in mind that you are an expression of God. Then you will say and do the right things.”
These are also wise words.
If we believe and acknowledge that we are imitators of God, then what words do we say that reflect that?
Maurine’s mother wrote further in her book, “If you are feeling unhappy, doubtful, disturbed, or concerned about something, take heart, hold firmly to the thought, ‘Everything is working out for good.’ Speak these words silently, speak them aloud, speak them even when you can’t believe them. ‘God is everywhere, constant, an eternal presence of good and God is right here now. God is speaking.’”
Indeed God is still speaking to us, and it is through his words to us, his words of blessings, that we are able to be imitators of God, and repeat these words to others to bring them hope, joy, and healing.
Jesus reminded us, “It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.”
Jesus also cautioned us to be mindful of the words we spoke when he said, “There is nothing outside the man which going into him can defile him; but the things which proceed out of the man are what defile the man.”
Words we speak should be chosen wisely so they are used in the same way Jesus would have spoken them.
It is through the words of Jesus that we become good stewards and disciples, just as he said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it shall be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be my disciples. Just as the Father has loved me, I have also loved you; abide in my love.”
Here Jesus is combining words of blessings with actions, or as we talked about last week, good works.
Saying words is not necessarily living out the words we speak, yet when we allow God to pilot the rudder, we are able to live into the words we speak so that we bring glory to our Abba Father.
So to bring our discussion today full circle considering that as disciples, we are teachers of the word, we can remember these words spoken by Jesus, “All power is given unto you in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, teaching them to observe all this whatsoever I have commanded you, and lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.”
Words of blessings, indeed.
When you think of stewardship this week, listen for the words God is speaking to you to bless someone in some way, and let us stand up together so that all might hear…it really does take all of us to stop hate and inspire change.
(Silent Reflection)
PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE and LORD’S PRAYER
God of Words, you speak to us with blessings for which we give you thanks and praise. You teach us how to be imitators of your nature, and direct our paths to those in need of blessings. Hear us this hour as we pray for our local, state and national governments. As elections approach, help us to be responsible to know the candidates we vote for, and that the words we hear are the full words being spoken by the candidate, and not manufactured by computers and editing. And most of all Lord, may we remember that it is you who rules over all things. Lord have mercy on those who abuse children and do not responsibly watch over them. We pray for the release of hostages and wars to cease. We pray that words of blessings rain down on those who are in the midst of wars that destroys homes and lives, and ask that your peace and love prevail. Lord, we give you thanks for the earth we live in, and the blessings that thrive for our protection and ask that all peoples are responsible in preserving the gifts you provide. Healing God, we ask for all those who are suffering from Covid, cancer, grief, depression, and other illnesses that make the body weary that they be healed in your mercy as we pause now to pray for the ones who have asked for our prayers……………………………………………………
Heal these and all who are in need of healing, O God, as we give you praise for your blessings and pray the prayer Jesus taught his disciples, Our Father, who art in heaven…….Amen.