I want to talk to you about words—God’s words and
our words. God’s words create a world. They speak a
world into existence. A world full of light and life.
And so, surprisingly, can ours.
Our words can create a world. They can speak a world
into existence. Platform 9 ¾. Hermione. Hogwarts.
This is the world of Harry Potter, and it is the world
made possible by the words of J.K. Rowling. She
created a world with a young wizard who, on his
eleventh birthday, receives a letter of acceptance to
Hogwarts School. But more importantly, her words
create a world of friendship, adventure, and the
struggle between good and evil. The first book, Harry
Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, sold in excess of 120
million copies, and it is the third best-selling book of
all time.
Yes, our words can create a world. We do it all the
time. But human words can also have a doubleedged sword.
Our scripture tells us that we are made in the image of
God. Listen again.
“Then God said, ‘Let us make humankind in our
image, according to our likeness.’
So God created humankind in his image, in the image
of God he created them; God blessed them.”
Made in the image of God, we know that we have the
power to speak—to create words. But we also know
the power of words, both psychologically and in a
formative way. Our words can both bless and damn.
The writer of James adequately captures the power
of the tongue: “With it (the tongue) we bless the Lord
our Father, and with it we curse those who are made
in his likeness. From the same mouth come blessing
and curse.” (James 3)
Our words matter. The stories that we hear, the ones
that we tell ourselves, matter. They shape us. They
inhabit us. They get inside of us. We know the power
of words that we speak to ourselves. Words that we
speak to others. Words to encourage, to bless, to offer
hope in the midst of darkness.
Now, will you imagine with me? Close your eyes
(you can do this) and imagine. Picture that teacher,
that grandparent, friend, or parent, someone in your
life that made a positive difference simply by the
words that they spoke to you. Now, hold onto that
holy image.
I’ll share mine. My grandfather—Pop, as we called
him—was a quiet, kind man. He loved life. He loved to
read, play golf, and he loved clothes. He was a snappy
dresser. Prior to retiring, Pop was a wildcatter in the
oil business in Texas, a dangerous and uncertain
business. But I think it made him cherish life more.
One afternoon as we shared an apple (you get a
piece, now I get a piece), he looked at me and said,
“Darling, I want you to remember: If you can’t do one
thing, you can always do another. Never let yourself
be or stay discouraged.”
I was small with pigtails and a big gap in my teeth,
but those words stuck with me. They gave me fight
in my belly and courage in times in my life when
struggles were real and life was hard. They gave me
faith in God.
I challenge you to express your gratitude to that
person that you pictured, that teacher, that friend, that
parent, that grandparent, the one that you imagined
earlier, the one whose words made a difference in
your life. I know I thank Pop every day.
Friends, the words that we say matter, and it is
our responsibility to choose them wisely, for there
are those here today who still sting from words
that were said to them, perhaps this morning, last
week, or years ago. Words, perhaps, that were not
meant to harm, but nonetheless they were words
that wounded. If you carry shame, or believe lies
about your worth, who God created you to be, from
damaging words spoken to you, lay them down. For
you are created in the image of God.
Humankind is created in the image of God. Our words
have the power to create a world. The words we say
matter. Not only do our words reflect the power of
God, but they can also be a vessel for God’s power
and love. God’s words shine through us. The power
that we have with our words, it reflects that we are
created in the image of God. We can be a vessel for
good. We can be a vessel for healing.
Listen again to the words Mike spoke this morning
from the Assurance of Pardon. “God does not deal
with us according to our sins, nor repay us according
to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are about
the earth, so great is God’s steadfast love toward
those who revere him; as far as the east is from the
west, so far God removes our transgressions. Friends,
your sins are forgiven.”
Mikes saying those words makes it so. Mike is a
vessel for God speaking through him. We are forgiven!
Each Sunday we are invited to confess our sins, trusting
in the mercy and the goodness of God. We hear words
of grace. We hear words of love. Words that we are
forgiven. Words that allow us to forgive ourselves.
These are God’s words, and they make us new!
Now let’s talk about God’s words.
God saying it makes it so. God saying it is good
makes it good. Very Good.
God’s words reveal the glory of God which takes us
up out of ourselves and makes us new. Makes us
likeable. God’s words create a world. They speak our
world into existence, a world full of light and life. And
in our world, we can see the glory of God.
Look around you. We can see the glory of God in
long summer evenings. In grass lush with that perfect
shade of early summer green. We can see the glory
of God in the fragrance of flowers. We have seen the
glory of God in the music given to us by the bell choir
this morning, and we have seen the glory of God in
the children on the steps who had the right answers.
We even have seen the glory of God this week in this
sanctuary and in the chapel as we conducted funeral
services in celebration of life and in our hope in the
resurrection. We have seen God’s glory in family and
friends showing up.
The very goodness of it all. The beauty of those we
love, the sound of their voices, the light in their eyes,
the joy of our students right now exploring their faith
in Samos, on Footsteps of Faith. These all belong to
the world that God spoke and continues to speak into
existence. These all show that God’s creation, they
show us that it is good. Very good.
But there are still times for me, and I am sure for you,
where it is hard to see God’s glory, and that is when we
need to remember those words that made a difference
in our lives. If we can’t see the glory of God in one
place, look for it again in another. And as my Pop said
to me: “Never let yourself be or stay discouraged.”
For God made it all good. Very good. Behold the glory
of God.
Amen.