Words Full of Life Because of His Life
Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Ephesians 5:6-10 ESV Read More
It is super easy to be taken away with words. The whole Facebook/Russia/Fake News fiasco going on in the news right now all turns on what people think about words. A marketing professor I had once said “Big letters, small words!” all of the time. The thing is, we are easily swayed by words because of how they make us feel but not so much about whether they are true or not.
That is where the deceit of empty words comes in. It is all too easy to be swayed this way or that based on what someone says or posts (since we are all publishers in 2018). The emphasis on the warning here is on empty words that deceive and bring about God’s wrath. Remember that we are always looking at the context of what is written and we don’t want to take 3 verses out of context. Paul has been talking about what the Christian life looks like. This is a section of how to live in light of God having mercy on you and saving you from your sins. That’s where the words go from being empty to being real.
If we speak about integrity but then live a lifestyle of lying and cheating, it turns out that our words were empty. If we have zeal for the sanctity of life but then have no respect for the poor and the hurting, our words are empty. Don’t be deceived by rhetoric and slogans, because those evil things that the empty rhetoric and slogans promote are bringing the wrath of God. That is a heavy statement worthy of review. “…Because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience.” Because of the empty words! With that, let none of us be empty word factories or empty word practitioners. Better to show your faith with no words at all than to speak words with no force of life behind them!
“No partnership or participation” with the empty word people means that our words of light won’t be weakened. When we have force behind our words that is a consistent life well-lived, we don’t want to be associated with the empty words of deceivers. The fact is, we don’t need to be. As we discern what pleases the Lord, our words become even more powerful. As we do God’s will in the day to day, our words line up more and more with what we understand of the Lord’s will. This integrity and consistency line up to bear fruit that is true and full of light.
Let us discern God’s will, walk in it, find our voice, and then speak full words.