The Way of Words
Rebecca Harkins
Words are powerful. We see in Genesis words used first by our God when he is creating the world and by a word, he spoke everything into being. We see in Hebrews that Jesus upholds the universe by the word of his power. Words that we hear and speak are given great emphasis throughout Scripture, which is the very eternal Word of God, as important and valuable. They are even life giving through the power of the Holy Spirit opening our eyes to God’s Word. We should be in the practice of teaching young children to use their words with care and thoughtfulness because they matter. Not only that, but we should also speak Gospel truth to them faithfully and consistently so that they hide that Word in their hearts and by hearing they would believe and have new life in Christ. Our words to children matter. God’s Words to children matter. Would we teach them, like Ezra did when he “set his heart to study the Law of the Lord, and to do it and to teach his statues and rules in Israel.”
Children can be like sponges that soak in much of what is around them. In children’s ministry that fact can be used to teach children the truth of the Gospel because they are listening to our words to find out their purpose. Here are three ways to think about how valuable words relate to children and children’s ministry. First, we faithfully share with our children the true words of the Gospel by giving them the story of Jesus in his life, death, and resurrection. They will hear and know and love that greatest story even as they are first learning to understand words. In this way, children (and adults!) have this truth in their head and their heart so that they can read and believe God’s Word and preach the Gospel every day to themselves. Second, as Jesus says in Luke 6:45, “...for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks” so we want to teach children that the words of our mouths come from the overflow of what is in the heart. Therefore, when relating to others, we should teach children the power of the words they use in speaking words of kindness, love, and Gospel truth to others around them. And in turn, also reminding them of saying words of repentance in asking for forgiveness when they sin. Lastly, teaching children to use their words in relationship to the Lord. In reading and loving his Word, they learn how to use words to pray, to sing, to lift others up, and to proclaim the life-giving words of the Gospel out of the abundance of their hearts.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” (Proverbs 18:21). So often in our broken world, it comes at no surprise that words of falsehood and negativity are heard by children. Words can wound but they can also heal. Proverbs, for example, gives us instruction in practical living and many verses found there are about what our words can do. “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.” (Proverbs 16:24) or “Anxiety in a man’s heart weights him down, but a good word makes him glad.” (Proverbs 12:25). Let us be vigilant in guarding our words and giving our covenant children words of hope that they may speak into the darkness of this world in whatever they face. We pray that our children will be hearers and doers of the Word. We pray that they would, like Peter in John 6:68 say, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life, and we have believed, and have come to know that you are the Holy One of God.”