Today in the Word

Watch an interview with our author Kelli Worrall, as she explains the power of our words!

The Bible Warns Us about the Power of Our Tongue! Today in the Word author Kelli Worrall Do you sometimes speak in a way that does not honor God? Maybe you ...

The authorship of James is typically attributed to Jesus’ half-brother. This epistle was likely written soon after Pentecost (as early as AD 35). It may even be the earliest New Testament document. James is writing to “the twelve tribes scattered among the nations” (James 1:1)— Jews who believed in Jesus as the Messiah and had left Jerusalem, possibly due to persecution. They had a foundation of faith but were lacking maturity. So James was writing to teach them how to live out their Christian commitment under difficult circumstances. A thesis statement for the book could be “faith without works is dead” (2:17).

James frequently references the teaching of Jesus. In The Moody Bible Commentary, John F. Hart notes 24 specific parallels with Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. Most relevant to our study, almost every chapter of James includes lessons on communication.

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In Matthew 21:33–44, Jesus told this parable: A landowner leased his vineyard to several tenants. When he sent his servants to retrieve his produce, the tenants killed them. When the landowner sent a larger group of servants to complete the errand, the tenants killed them as well. Finally, the landowner sent his own son. However, the tenants saw in the son an even greater opportunity. They killed him, seeking his inheritance.

The servants in the parable were the prophets, sent by God and rejected by the Jewish leaders. The son represented Jesus—God’s ultimate messenger. Through this parable, Jesus demonstrated God’s persistent communication with Israel, despite their objections. Hebrews also opens with a clear declaration of divine communication: “In the past God spoke to our ancestors through the prophets at many times and in various ways, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son” (vv. 1–2). God has always communicated with His people through different methods.

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“Intrapersonal communication” describes how we speak to ourselves—our thoughts, our self-talk, our reflection. It includes the way we process emotion, the lies we battle, and the truth we bring to bear. Philippians chapter 4 has much to say about the way we communicate within ourselves.

In Philippians 4, Paul calls the church to a communal life of joy and peace. First, he addresses them with gushing relational language—“my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown” (v. 1). The Philippian church was dear to Paul’s heart. They were his first church plant in Europe and had supported him throughout his ministry (v. 15).

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When we practice unity with other believers, we have true joy. Give us gentleness and love to live in community well. Thank you for the fellowship that You bring!

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American novelist Nathaniel Hawthorne once wrote: “Words—so innocent and powerless as they are, as standing in a dictionary, how potent for good and evil they become, in the hands of one who knows how to combine them!”

The apostle Paul often talked about the way we speak. In the first three chapters of Ephesians, Paul instructed the church on the blessings of redemption, their regeneration from death to life, and the reconciliation of Jews and Gentiles in the church. Chapter 4 makes a clear transition to application: “Live a life worthy of the calling you have received” (v. 1). Living this worthy life involves maintaining unity in the Spirit (vv. 2–13), maturing in love (vv. 14–16), and trading the old self for the new (vv. 17–24).

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Your free gift of salvation crosses all ethnic and cultural barriers, Lord. When we are sharing the gospel with others, please give us the words to say that will help them understand Your love.

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What aspect of creation best communicates the nature of God to you? Is it the majesty of the Rocky Mountains? The pure joy of a bubbling stream? The delicate intricacy of a flower petal? The fierce power of a crashing wave?

Romans 1 describes the ways in which God communicates and how humanity has responded. Paul begins by declaring that he is “not ashamed of the gospel” (v. 16). He knows it is not merely information about God but the very power of God (v. 17).

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Saul’s conversion is one of the most dramatic in Scripture. At the start, Saul was aggressively pursuing Jesus’ disciples (v. 1). He even requested letters from the high priest, giving him permission to capture any followers of the Way in the synagogue (v. 2). However, while on the road to Damascus, Jesus spoke to him through a flashing light and audible voice: “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?” (vv. 3–4). Jesus’ communication with Saul was both personal and confrontational. Saul responded, “Who are you, Lord?”

The word translated “Lord” can be a general term of respect, so Saul likely did not know who was speaking. Jesus answered: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting” (v. 5b). God then gave Saul clear instructions to enter the city, wait, and listen. Saul’s companions were speechless, and Saul was struck blind. He was unable to act on his own accord. Jesus had his attention, and Saul could only wait.

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If you could time-travel to any point in biblical history, which would you choose? Pentecost would be on my top ten list as a communication event that changed the course of history. Acts 2 records this pivotal moment in history when God sent the Holy Spirit to the disciples with a rushing wind and tongues of fire (vv. 2–3). The Spirit enabled the disciples to speak in other languages (v. 4).

Jews from every country were in Jerusalem—providing a diverse audience (v. 5). They all gathered to hear the disciples’ message. Imagine their amazement when they heard the disciples speaking in their own languages (vv. 6–12). At that moment, the linguistic fracture of the Tower of Babel (Gen. 11) was reversed and redeemed through the work of the Spirit. Where Babel scattered the people through confusion, Pentecost drew people together through understanding.

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