-One typically does not wake up one day and suddenly embrace a lie or follow some pied piper down the primrose path. Deceit tends to happen more slowly, gradually. persuasion generally takes time. But the lie as well as the argument are borne on the wings of words. The Greek word logos appears three times in various forms in this verse. It is the words to which we expose ourselves, the ones we hear, read, and begin to repeat that profoundly influence what we will one day believe (and then begin to do), and thus who we become. Paul knew that our hearts and minds need a steady diet of truth, the truth about Jesus. And so in this letter he is intent on giving his readers a massive dose.
-Let there be light. I love you. I hate you. I forgive you. You are special. You are worthless. I want you. Chicken. What, are you afraid? You look fat. You are ugly. You are beautiful. I’m sorry. I do. I am with you always. I am for you. Did God really say...? Kill the infidels. Love your enemies. Love one another. Please. Thank you. Yes, words are powerful things. They can guide, heal, wound, deceive, build up, spur on,entice, cast doubt. The gift of speech was given to man alone (apart from the angels) as the pinnacle of God’s creation, made in the image of this One Who USED WORDS to make the universe. The words we say and to which we listen and pay attention profoundly influence how we feel and what we do and who we are and what we become. As well as what we believe.
-Words. Indeed, they are powerful. Spoken words, written words. For example, words of blessing from a dad can make a young man, and yet how many men have never heard their dad say ‘I love you’ or ‘I am proud of you’? How many men today are walking wounded, carrying around daddy wounds that they received from wounded dads, shut down, silent and/or abusive, distant, disengaged, angry, hurting and hurting others. The silence of Adam did more than allow Eve to eat the forbidden fruit - his sons continue the legacy and daily deprive those around them of words of life. It does take more than words of course to make a difference, to wound someone, to encourage, to impart healing and forgiveness, but words are key.
-Paul knew this. He knew the power of the logos. And so even tho he was confined to using the written word, he knew the importance of the words he employed on behalf of these believers. Words were being used to try and persuade these believers to believe something different about Jesus and about how to follow Him. He understood that eternal consequences (Colossians 3.24-25) and the glory of God (Colossians 3.17) were at stake! And he knew that words were the way to win the day - words of intercession spoken to God in prayer and words of truth and exhortation communicated in this letter. In fact this is exactly what he will relate in the last two imperatives of this letter. He will tell his readers to make the most of their words, to devote themselves to prayer (Colossians 4.2-4) and to make the most of their God-given oppportunities to influence others. With their words (Colossians 4.5-6).
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