There is an old fable that goes something like this:

Once upon a time there was a group of frogs that were traveling through the woods, when two of them fell into a deep pit. When they discovered how deep the pit was, the frogs at the top yelled down and told their two stranded mates that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what all the others were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

            Now the other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again the crowd of frogs at the top yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally, amazingly, he made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, “Did you not hear us?” The frog understood what they were asking and explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. The moral of the story? There is power of life and death in words!

            Old fables sometimes carry a great deal of wisdom, and there is certainly gospel wisdom in this one. The ancient Hebrews believed that words had the power to create and destroy. The word that the Hebrews used was Dabar – a force that was dynamic, filled with energy and power. Dabar – the Word – is used hundreds of times in the scriptures. In the book of Genesis the Hebrew people had God creating through the power of Dabar. It was Dabar that came to Abraham and Sarah in the desert; Dabar imprinted on the tablets of the Ten Commandments; and Dabar that comes to all the prophets of the Old Testament.  The Old Testament scriptures constantly point to the power of Dabar – the Word! God’s word is burning and irrepressible fire (Jer. 20:7-9), like a sword (Is 49:2) or a hammer (Jer 23:29); it is able “to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to ruin, to build and to plant” (Jer 1:9-10). It makes sense then, that in the early Church the first Christians pointed to Jesus of Nazareth and saw in him Dabar – he was the Word! Throughout all of scripture God’s words have power. And if God’s words have power – so do ours.

            I am so often reminded in my own life of how a word of encouragement or affirmation can transform a day that is dreary and difficult into a moment of beauty. I am also aware of how a word of criticism can cast shadows on even the most glorious day. Words can destroy us, or words can lift us up. Every day we exercise more power than we know. So many people come into our lives each day, and how we use our words can make a tremendous difference in their lives. Do we choose words of kindness and peace?  Do we try to affirm whenever we have the chance? Do we challenge with gentleness and a sense of encouragement?

                 Today I must commit myself to carefully choosing the words I speak to my children and my spouse – I want them to hear words of encouragement and love. I will choose carefully the words I speak to my co-workers – I want them to hear words of affirmation and support. I must choose carefully the words I speak to this congregation – I must speak gospel words, challenging yet always gentle. Like Dabar in the Old Testament, each of us exercises a dynamic power in the words we choose to use. Use words that build up. Use words that help others. Use words that give life!