I like words.
God obviously likes words too. He has revealed himself in His Word. Jesus is the Word made flesh. "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God." (John 1:1) God speaks things into existence. Jesus heals people simply by His command.
Recently I've noticed some funny ways we use words. It's interesting how we use different verbs with certain actions. For example, have you ever noticed that we 'get' a haircut even though something has been taken away, we 'see' what someone means to say (I see what you mean...) even though we can't see thoughts, we 'lose' our mind even though we know exactly where it is, and we 'have' dinner even thought we haven't 'had' it until it's actually gone.
There were some other words that jumped out at me just a few weeks ago and they've been on my mind ever since. The words are 'take courage,' and 'take heart.'
Jesus says 'take courage' a few times in the New Testament and what's interesting to me is the verb 'take' in reference to courage and heart. We don't really 'get' or 'see' courage or 'receive' heart as if it is done for us without any action on our part. Although we can be inspired, when we say 'take courage', or 'take heart', the implication is that there something for us to do. We need to take a step. We have to initiate the action, even if it's a small step.
Here's my point - we often want courage or faith without taking the step. It's still true that it's God's presence and power that actually does the work in making us strong or courageous (Joshua 1:9), but it's almost like He offers it to us, but we still need to reach out...and take it.
Maybe that's you today. I know it's me.
Take courage. Take heart. God's presence and power is with you.
Check out the words to this song...
