Devotions

Opus xx. Words June 14, 2022

My mother told me repeatedly that “sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” She was always encouraging me regarding my physical strength and size. I was a big kid for my age. But we know that words can indeed hurt. Used for the wrong reason, words can cause a love relationship to fail, a business to close, and a war to start. Words are important, powerful, and life-changing. We should pay close attention to the words we use every moment, every day, I pray.

We who practice our faith as Methodists understand the importance of words. John Wesley, one of our founders, wrote many words in “teaching sermons” (Oden, 1994), Biblical commentary on the Old and the New Testament, hymns, letters, and poem He understood the importance of words, exceptionally written words. He said that “I am a man of one book” (Wesleyana, 1840, pg. 39). That book was the Bible. Written words have dignity, power, and purpose long after printing.

Jude writes using a few words but most profound words concerning our human dignity, most specifically our sexuality. You may ask, why? Because for the early church, the concept of Holiness, our Holiness was paramount. Rabbinical teaching began at the first of the Jewish new year, every new year, with two essential topics. The Covenant Code and the Holiness Code. (Muilenberg, The Way of Israel, pgs 21-22) Genesis, creation and obedience, and Leviticus, holiness in chapters 17-26, were the books used to remind Israel of the Covenant with G-D Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, taught us to be holy as our Father in Heaven is Holy. “You, therefore, must be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” (Matt 5:43, NIV)

For us, Jude gives us his words. A small, one-chapter book filled with truth. “Beloved, being very eager to write to you of our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith…” (Jude v3, NIV) Especially the word used as a verb, epagonizomai (G1864) (ep-ag-o-nid-zom-ahee) or to contend. It is used one time in this text only in the entire Greek New Testament. Furthermore, it means to “earnestly contend for.” In other words, we are struggling for the truth because often, the truth evades us. 

In the context of Jude, we are to struggle with identifying truth from fiction. Jude warns that “For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ, our only Sovereign, and Lord.” (Jude, v4, NIV)

In closing, I encourage you, the reader, to reflect on the words you used today. Spend some time with some Holy Words. Perhaps a short read of Jude is a way to begin. And above all, pray.

Cleve is retired with his wife in Tampa, Fl. He holds a MThS from Drew Theological School