Sept. 18 Devotion: Words Are Easy

Words Are Easy

John 1:17

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

Jesus Christ is truth! Seems like an obvious statement to believers, but I want us to think about that statement a bit. We believe the Word because Christ is truth! As we read the Bible, there is Scripture we will come across that we might not understand, but we still just believe it. We believe because Jesus has never let us down. He’s never gone back on His Word; therefore, it’s easy to believe His Word.

The thought for today though started this past week at my job. We have someone about to retire, and that caused us to reflect on things that have happened over the past few years. One of those was a person that was let go that we all considered a friend. It’s easy to say that your co-workers are just acquaintances; however, this was someone that several of us had done things outside of work with, so we thought of him as a true friend. Yet, after he was let go, he never really talked to any of us even though we continually reached out. I just can’t imagine doing that to someone I referred to as a friend.

Today, words seem easy to throw around. How often do you call someone a friend? How many “ I love you” or “I’m praying for you” a day do you give out? If you say you’re sorry to someone, are you truly?

Let’s expand on these a bit:

Calling someone a friend. Are they really? A friend is someone you can count on to be there for you. Someone who will help bear your burdens. Remember, Jesus called Judas a friend, knowing what he was about to do. Are you a friend like Jesus or Judas?

I love you or I’m praying for you. Yes, there are different types of love, but if you’re going to say those things, does it show? Can that person you say it to believe you love them because of how you act and treat them? Do you truly pray for them? If you tell someone on Sunday that you’re praying for them, the next time you see them, have you spent time truly seeking God for whatever it may be that they need prayer for?

I’m sorry. Are we truly sorry when we speak those words? Or is it just a couple of words we throw out to smooth things over? If we’re truly sorry, it should show in our actions.

Jesus didn’t merely say He loved us—He went to Calvary and demonstrated it. Jesus didn’t merely say He was our friend—He laid down His life for us. His words can be trusted because His actions have always backed up His words. Can the same be said about us?

1 John 3:18 says, “My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue; but in deed and in truth.”

Words are easy. “I love you” is easy. “I’m praying for you” is easy. “I’m sorry” is easy. Calling someone “friend” is easy. But as Christians, our words should mean something. Each of us needs to examine ourselves today and ask: Do my actions give people a reason to believe my words?

God bless,

Bro. Josh Richardson