Language and Sanctification ...

Wednesday, Feb 25, 2015. Currently, I am in Japan on a workshop. Surrounded by Japanese people, it is quite interesting to listen to the words and sounds. I had some Japanese lessons years ago, but I am far from understanding the language when someone speaks. I am far from getting the meaning of what people say to me. Language can be fascinating - and it can be difficult to understand.

Language and truth …

When you listen to a foreign language, it can be challenging to understand. But even if you listen to words in your own language, it can be difficult to get the meaning. Probably you remember some experiences in school, when you just did not get the point of what the teacher wanted to say. Or you think about some particular science lessens, which were hard to follow.

I have been thinking about language this morning, in my personal prayer time. Language has been very valuable to God, the bible tells us that he created the heaven and the earth by his word. Many parts of the bible consists of descriptions and speeches. Language is all over the place. Language is there to tell us something. God's word, as it has been spoken by the prophets, is in the core of his communication with us.

And then, in the New Testament, we learn about God's word becoming flesh. In Christ Jesus, his word comes to us. The speeches and words of Jesus have a particularly intense meaning. And his whole personality is God speaking to us. His whole life, his ministry and his death is God talking and talking and talking. Can we understand him? Do we get the point? Can we follow?

Sanctification …

In the gospel of John a prayer of Jesus is recorded. He talks about his mission, about what he told his disciples, about what he passed on. And he prays for them - and for all who hear from God through them. He prays:

17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth. (John 17, 17)

Something special happens here by God's word. It is sanctification. It is a process which changes us. It comes into our life by words - mere words. But it is more than that. Word is truth, it is said here. And Jesus talks about his spirit which comes into our heart when we come to faith. He talks about us being renewed through this spirit. He talks about a renewal of our whole existence, of our personality, of everything we are. The word has a power which is hard to comprehend. It can sanctify us, change us, purify us and transform us to be kids of the most high, fully and without any darkness.

Do we believe in the power of his word? When we would believe, just a little bit - with a faith as large as a mustard seed, then we would see his wonders. His word is powerful, it can change our heart. It can bring peace. It can change us, it can hold us, it can guide us. We do not take words serious enough, mostly. But when we take him serious, our world shakes. (RWEP) ... more texts