The Parents Language

As I travel around the world there is something I notice that is worth mentioning; children speak the same language as their parents. You say, “Everybody knows that.” I disagree with you. Not everybody does and you may be one of them.

Have you been born again and is God your Father? How well do you know the language he speaks? “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. . . And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 2, 14, NASB). The language of our Father is best seen by spending time with Jesus and learning to speak as he spoke. Do you think Jesus would speak the way you do or would that be an embarrassment to him or cause him to sin?

“Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, handling accurately the word of truth” (2 Timothy 2:15, NASB). As I work with Chinese students who are trying to learn English, I am reminded of myself as I over the years have struggled to learn to speak as Jesus would. It is not easy, but if we are a member of the family of God then it should be natural for us to learn to speak the way Jesus does - or are you satisfied with the language of the world?

Jesus said, “Every careless [useless] word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned” (Matthew 12:26 – 37, NASB). When our life is placed in the fire to be tested (1 Corinthians 3:10 – 15) how will all that we have spoken turn out? Will it be an embarassment as we stand before Jesus Christ?

“Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, that it may give grace to those who hear” (Ephesians 4:29, NASB). As I wrote this verse the thought that came to mind was “Are these verses familiar to you and thus no longer have an impact on your life?” The writer of Hebrews warns us about the results of letting the word become familiar to us; it results in little growth (Hebrews 5:11 – 14). When something becomes familiar it tends to lose its impact in our life. A spectacular water falls to a tourist is exciting and has a great impact, but for the person who lives near it, it is just another water falls.

We could talk about pure words of Psalms 12:6, acceptable words of Psalms 19:14, gentle words of Proverbs 15:1, or the words of life and death of Proverbs 18:21, but I think you get my point. Do you speak like God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ or like someone else of lesser quality?