Five

      Those who consider themselves religious and yet do not keep a tight rein on their tongues deceive themselves, and their religion is worthless. James 1:26

      Okay, today I am going to cover words, words, in my opinion are some of the most powerful movements in the universe. Why? 
     Well, for those who believe, I think we can all agree in the fact the God made us in His image. In that, I would lean towards Genesis, as we look into the creation story, we see time and time again the power of words. Verse 3, And God said "let there be light," and there was light. Verse 6 and 7, And God said, "Let there be a vault between the waters to separate water from water." So God made vault and separated the water from under the vault from the water below it. And it was so. Verse 9, And God said, "Let the water under the sky be gathered to one place and let dry ground appear." And it was so. Verse 11, Then God said, "Let the land produce vegetation: seed-bearing plants and trees on the land that bear fruit with seed in it, according to the various kinds. And it was so. Verse 14 and 15, And God said, "Let there be lights in the vault of the sky to separate the day from the night, and let them serve as signs to mark sacred times, and and days and years, let them be lights in the vault of the sky to give light on earth." And it was so. Verse 20, And God said, "Let the water teem with living creatures, and let birds fly above the earth across the vault of the sky." Verse 22 And God said, "Let the land creatures produce living creatures according to their kinds: the livestock, the creatures that move along the ground, and the wild animals, each according to its kind." And it was so. Verse 26, Then God said, "Let us make mankind in our image, in our likeness, so that they may rule over the fish in the sea and the birds in the sky, over the livestock and all the wild animals, and over all the creatures that move along the ground." 
      So, in the first 26 verses of the bible, 10 of them directly speak of God speaking, and then the others, are Him naming the things He created. So, the entire opening of the bible to me, not only tells of creation, but the power of words. Let's face it, He's God, He could have snapped His fingers, waved a mighty wand, clapped, blinked, winked, or pretty much anything else to create everything, and yet He spoke. For me, that is the power of words. 
      Verse 26 speaks of being made in His image. In that, I will jump way forward into the book of Matthew,  when Jesus says, "if you have the faith of a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Once again, the power of words, and yet I feel we often forget that power. We use words to cut down and not heal, we are quick to talk badly of someone, but not quick to commend or comfort one. My son once said, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words cut through my soul.", a quote that has often haunted me. How many times have I used words to tear someone apart, how many times have I dodged a chance to heal by my words, or even just say a simple 'Hi' to a stranger. 
      In delving into this I found something very interesting. I will set up this to the best of my view. Matthew, Mark and Luke, three books that show the life of Jesus from three different perspectives. They were all different men with different backgrounds, and yet, you find this.

      Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away.  Matthew 24:35

      Heaven and earth will pass away,  but my words will never pass away. Mark 13:31

      Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will never pass away. Luke 21:33

     Okay, first of all, for those who don't delve into the disciples, they often fought like cats and dogs, Jesus broke up more than one disagreement between them, and yet, this quote struck a chord deep within all of their souls, not paraphrased, word for word. No difference. I know that it speaks of Christ's words, and in that I understand, but there were often much deeper meanings in that, and for me, I look at it this way, Jesus call us His brothers and sisters, God calls us His children, and the bible says we are created in His image, and from personal experience, I know that spiteful angry words can leave a wound that stays open when the physical wounds heal. So, please choose your words carefully, For we have the power to create or destroy with them, and the words we speak may never pass away. 

   "For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned." - Jesus Christ