An Undervalued Work of Art

I had a thought the other day...

I had just passed off a card to a young girl in a lot of pain, with more responsibility than her fourteen years should merit. I was driving home with a smile on my face. There was a complete and utter confidence in my soul that I had given her the most powerful comfort in the world. I gave her a card full of Scripture. And that got me thinking. I would have no confidence in myself, in my words of comfort, or my ability to counsel, but for the Word of God. I have all confidence in the Word of God, and what it has done in my life. I know that the Word of God does not return void, and that it has the power to comfort that girl where I never could.

Funny thing...I used to have very little confidence in the Word of God. It was a book full of words. Granted, it had wisdom and value...but I had no idea the power and healing in the Word of God. And on this car drive home I got to thinking of what God's Word means to me.

Words are very powerful. Have you ever noticed that clever people seem to use them so much better than others? One word can have multiple meanings. It can have cultural implications. Many words not only have a strict definition but a connotation as well. You can communicate one idea in ten different ways. I was driving behind a school bus the other day when I read the words on the back: "Unlawful to pass when red lights are flashing." Why did they say 'unlawful' instead of illegal? Don't they mean the same thing? Then I slowly realized, that when I had read that sign, my gut immediately told me that if I passed that bus when the red lights were flashing, not only would I be susceptible for a ticket, but I would be a horrible person. There seemed to be a moral attachment to the word unlawful. Why? Well...when people think illegal...breaking the speed limit is illegal, but people do it all the time...but unlawful? Then it hit me. Unlawful has the word 'awful' in it! I broke a smile and saluted someone for his genius. But look at that! Look at the power of words!!

And how many times have you said one wrong word in a conversation that turned everything sour? How about saying something perfectly innocent that someone took the wrong way? I have definitely done both. The minute it was out of my mouth and I saw that face I wanted to take it back. We, as human beings, are no masters of language. Sometimes I feel like we are children painting with finger paint. Sometimes, by fluke or sudden genius, we create a masterpiece. And sometimes we make an awful mess. But a master painter knows the technique, knows color, knows texture, knows light, and knows how to precisely capture every detail in order to make an exquisite masterpiece. Same paint, different outcome. And I realized...

God gave us language. He is the master of words. And that is why the Bible is perfect, infallible, and absolutely beautiful. It is His exquisite masterpiece, without flaw or blemish. It isn't just a smart book. And that is why every Scripture verse has power and beauty in itself. It isn't just a sentence constructed...it is a work of art, crafted by the Master who knows every past and future implication of every word. Add in the Holy Spirit, who guides believers into truth and you get a dynamic duo-unstoppable by all the smudges and smears of man's messy nature.

And that is why, whenever I give someone a verse, I get this warm feeling inside, as though I am imparting a priceless treasure that God will use in their life in a manner according to His plan. I just never understood it so well as that night driving home. It still makes me smile to think of it as a painting, painted by the Master Communicator! I hope that it makes you smile too. I should go and read it some more.