This month on the blog we’re looking at how we are made in God’s image and reflect His nature; this post is specifically about how pure words can reflect the Lord.
As Jaime pointed out in the series intro, we are created in God’s image. (Genesis 1:26-27) As a result— only because of how God created us and not because of anything we have earned— we bear His image.
We don’t have to try to bear His image, we just do. In the words of John Piper,
The imago Dei [image of God] is not a quality possessed by man; it is a condition in which man lives, a condition of confrontation established and maintained by the Creator. … The imago Dei is that in man which constitutes him as him-whom-God-loves. (Emphasis, mine.)
Because we are “him-whom-God-loves” we reflect that position to the world around us.
But not only does mankind reflect God’s image because of how we were created, Believers can reflect Him to a dark world around us by letting His light shine within us. Through the Spirit of God indwelling us, we also can bear (or reflect) Him.
As a collective group, mankind speaks because we were generally created with that ability. We use words, because it reflects the image of our speaking Creator.
Careful and considerate words shine God’s light and reflect His nature to those around us.
Fixing Impure Words – It’s More than Behavior Control
So, how do we get words that show the world that we bear His image? When we don’t speak kindly or lovingly should we simply try to control our behavior?
No. Behavior control only puts a bandaid on the outside. It doesn’t fix the root of the issue— our hearts.
Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. (Matthew 12:33–35)
Do you see what Jesus said above? “…out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Let that sink in for a moment.
Boil Water Notice
When I turn on my kitchen tap, water flows. If the source of the water is pure, the water flowing out of the tap will be pure.
Have you ever had a “boil water notice” in your city? It happened recently in my area. Something had contaminated the water and made it unsafe for human consumption. Because the water was contaminated at the source, the water flowing into the taps of homes around the city was dangerous.
Once the root of the problem was solved, the water was made pure again.
That’s a little like our words. When the source (our hearts) is pure, the outcome (our words) will be pure. The reverse is also true. If the source is impure, the outcome will be, too. Fix the source, fix the problem!
What Do Pure Words Look Like?
I’ve been thinking a lot lately about what a good attitude and what pure words really look like. We recognize them when we see them– and we definitely notice when we don’t see them!
But if we analyze specifically what the characteristics are of God-reflecting words, I believe it could be summed up this way: the fruit of the Spirit.
Pure words that honor God and reflect His nature look like He looks. Words like that are life giving, because He is life giving. They build up, because He builds up. They are compassionate, because He is compassionate.
In short, pure words are the result of having the Spirit dwelling in our hearts, so they look like Him.
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. (Galatians 5:22-24)
Words that reflect God’s image are words of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control. Because we belong to Christ, we have crucified our flesh and the Spirit of God lives in us.
Where Does Contamination Lie?
It’s easy for any of us (even Believers) to catch an impure word coming from our mouths. Just like we need to take every thought captive (2 Corinthians 10:5), we need to evaluate our words often. Usually this evaluation isn’t a formal process (though it certainly can be)— we can usually recognize right away when a word slips out that isn’t in line with the Holy Spirit, right?!
Using the water analogy again, if we think of words as water flowing from our hearts, we have to look to our hearts to see where the “contamination” lies. Ultimately, impurity is not of God, right? (That’s easy enough to figure out.) But again, if we analyze it specifically, what might we come up with?
Maybe this…
Selfish words spoken to others are likely rooted from a lack of love for others. Angry words yelled in a house might be due to a lack of joy, peace, or patience with others. Cruelly opinionated words typed over social media might be a result of pride or a lack of kindness or goodness. Fearful, fretful words might be caused by a lack of faithfulness. Heated words of frustration could simply be a lack of gentleness or self-control.
These are only guesses, but you get the idea.
What to Do?
How do we make a practical application of all of this? After all, since we were made in God’s image, and since we don’t always use words that bring Him glory, what can anyone really do to help our words reflect God to those around us?
I mean, if we can’t just pop a bandaid on the problem and control our behavior, what can we truly do to make things better?
Draw near to God, and he will draw near to you. (James 4:8 a)
The answer is found in Jesus. Truly! Having Jesus’ Holy Spirit in our hearts gives us good fruit and that is what will change the quality of our words.
You see, when we “quench not the Spirit,” (1 Thessalonians 5:19) we willingly partner with God and thereby shine His light. Our words can then bring Him glory!
If we want to reflect God’s nature through our words, we can ask the Lord for a fresh filling of the Holy Spirit. (See Ephesians 5:18-20) He will empower us to speak with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.
Though we will never be perfect, and this life is a learning-journey, we can ask for fruit. He is good and faithful and will give the Spirit to those who ask! (Matthew 7:7-11)
In Him,
Ali
[…] of God. We are created to reflect His image in many ways, including (but not limited to) how we speak, love, are creative, and seek justice. We are also created to complete good works— just like He […]