Speaking Of Life 2007 | God’s Word of Truth
Anthony Mullins
Remember the childhood phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me”? It’s a lie!
The phrase is often used as an attempt to defend from the verbal bully who hurls insults and cutting remarks our way. Unfortunately, this phrase only ignores the problem by pretending hurtful words don’t hurt.
The truth is, harmful words can hurt us and break us in hidden ways that are hard to heal. We’ve all faced harmful words and hearing them often can twist the truth of our identity. It’s easy to start believing the lies – especially if we don’t know the truth.
Fortunately, we have a powerful voice of truth we can and should turn to. The voice of the Father, who spoke all creation into existence, is a voice that not only breaks a bully’s words but is a voice that brings healing to broken souls.
Listen to the Psalmist, who poetically pictures the power of this mighty voice of saving restoration.
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“The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over mighty waters. The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness; the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. The voice of the Lord causes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forest bare; and in his temple all say, ‘Glory!’” (Psalms 29:3-9 NRSV)
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Now that sounds like a voice who gets the last word. This powerful voice that thunders over mighty waters is truth that drowns out any voice that opposes it. The voice of the bully is broken, burned up and stripped bare. When the Father’s voice is heard, all other voices bow down.
And if that’s not incredible enough there’s one more thing you need to know about the Father’s voice. He’s speaking to you.
Just as the Father’s powerful words of love were heard over the waters of Jesus’ baptism, his words now can be heard in Jesus. Jesus is God’s powerful voice spoken to us. As we turn to hear him, he heals us of all our wounds and broken spirits and expels the words that speak harm. This is a voice worth listening to.
His voice tells you your true identity. You are a child of God. You are loved. You are forgiven, you are accepted, you are included in the love of the Father, Son and Spirit.
The next time someone assaults you with hurtful words, don’t let those words distort the truth of who you are. You are God’s beloved.
I’m Anthony Mullins, Speaking of Life.
