Hands and Feet...(Power Within Series Part III)

September 11, 2009

Danielle Joyner Kelley

“May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 15:5-6.

We are taught from a very young age that actions speak louder than words. The idea is that we should love and serve others not merely with promises we do not intend to keep, but in carrying out what we promise to do. In fact, God is a God of action. “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” 1 John 3:18.

However, in many cases, words are the action required to serve others. God made it clear there is power in our words. We are not told that He made the world by atoms and molecules, but we are told that He spoke it into existence. “And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light.” Genesis 1:3. As His children, our own tongue carries enormous power to speak things into existence as well. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:21.

Clearly our words affect others. For years courts have dealt with issues involving the strength of words. For example, if someone is standing on the edge of a cliff and you run up and yell “boo” behind them, their physical reaction may be to fall forward. Or if you run into an auditorium and yell “fire”, people will know to physically leave the building.

God uses the power in our words so that we can help each other. “But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called Today, so that none of you may be hardened by sin's deceitfulness.” Hebrews 3:13.

He knows the trials and tribulations we face, and through giving us the gift of encouragement, He will provide His strength to others in need. “But commission Joshua, and encourage and strengthen him, for he will lead this people across and will cause them to inherit the land that you will see." Deuteronomy 3:28. A person faced with making a difficult decision may pray for guidance, and then God may work through you to encourage them to make the right decision. Or a person going through a terrible time may pray for strength, and God may work through you to encourage them not to give up.

All too often, we do not speak these words because we are afraid of looking intrusive or foolish. Simply put, we don’t like rejection. That is when we have to remember that we work for God, and when God works through us to help others, He is not rejecting us. The only rejection we fear is a person’s rejection, and that should never be our focus.

God wants to ease our suffering. Just as when He commissioned Moses to lead the slaves out of Egypt, He had heard the peoples cry. “The LORD said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey.” Exodus 3:7-8.

Frequently, we complain that God is not answering our prayers. We have to remember that He works through us, and we are His hands and feet here on Earth. One of the best opportunities to show Him that you have truly put Him ahead of yourself is to speak encouragement to someone even when you fear rejection. In doing so, you show God your allegiance, you conquer fear, and most important,

You become the answer to someone’s prayer.