I was in a college speech class when my professor said,
“We only have language as knowledgable as the language we’ve allowed ourselves to hear.”
I know it sounds simple, but the immediate implications that my heart began to feel were literally mind-boggling. Although my speech teacher was attempting to explain the critical value that listening to historical speeches can instill within us, what I took was a deeper meaning into how we label our worth. Otherwise put, the implications for the way we view our lives.
See, if you only ever listened to broken English, you would never have a full picture of the English language. You would speak the broken lexicon that you’ve grown accustomed to. The issue with this is that if you are the one stuck, you know no difference. You’re stuck in the middle with no ability to conceptualize the prison you’re confined within.
Let’s get back to my prof’s quote. “We only have language as knowledgable as the language we’ve allowed ourselves to hear.”
Think of the 7.8 billion people that live in our world. How many of them are living worldly lives with no understanding of a better life- a life of freedom in Christ? As Christians, it’s easy to criticize and become hypocrites. I mean how many times have you thought:
- Well, shouldn’t they know better?
- Oh, their parents should have done a better job teaching them.
- I don’t think [name] has ever done something beneficial for society or themselves.
Okay okay, maybe that third one was a little much, but isn’t it true?? When we HAVE the Way the Truth and the Life in our hearts, we have the ABILITY to fight the temptations of the world with the truth of the Gospel. But, for those who are living of the world in sinful patterns, have we ever asked if they even know another way?
I mean, if we are only as knowledgeable as the language we’ve personally heard, what if there are still people in this world who have yet to hear the words that Christ Jesus has spoken over them?!
DOESN’T THAT JUST MAKE YOU WANT TO SHOUT THE GOOD NEWS FROM THE ROOFTOP?
Think of all the things we have access to when we open the Word of God. The Hope that is present in each word written! Just bask in the comfort found in the Bible. I’ve compiled a few verses that I have found to be cornerstones in life below.
“Jesus said. ‘My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jewish leaders. But now my kingdom is from another place.'” John 18:36
CHRSIT DIED FOR A R E A S O N !!! He wouldn’t have endured the pain and persecution of the cross if it weren’t for the opportunity of eternal life. An eternal life in perfect worship with our creator!
“Jesus answered, ‘I am the WAY and the TRUTH and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through me.'” John 14:6
Matthew 6:34, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
The Bible says, “Do not fear [worry],” 365 times. For the 365 days in a year, not ONE of them is worth your worry.
Matthew 6:26, “Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?”
Romans 5:8, “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
“Jesus answered them, ‘It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but [the] sinners to repentance.” Luke 5:31-32
2 Corinthians 12:9. “But [Jeus] said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.'”
Those are just a FEW of the thousands of hopeful and life-changing words that are spoken over us in the Bible. The Word of God is powerful, unchanging, and forever life-giving. BUT, for those who have never heard that there is a different way or that they are loved and chosen by God, no wonder they are living according to the world!
It is NOT our job to point fingers, gossip, or slander our unsaved brothers and sisters. And whenever you do want to speak maliciously, remember that they are made in the image of God just as much as you are. The fact that everyone has the image of Christ within them yet some still don’t know that this kind of love exists is heartbreaking.
You are probably connecting the dots by now, but as my prof said about only having language as knowledgable as that which we’ve allowed ourselves to hear, it is safe to say that in this world, we only have hope as filling as that which we’ve been awakened to. If you’ve never read or heard for yourself passages such as the previous verses, there’s no wonder you are still living in discontentment, anger, and worldly patterns.
So, what does this mean for us?
For those who have never heard of this all-powerful, all-loving, all-just, all-forgiving, and all-worthy God, I say to you that there is SO MUCH MORE for you than the sinful patterns you’re trapped within. You don’t have to keep living in the broken lexicon of lies anymore!
As for the Christian church, we have a great responsibility on our hands. Now, the key is we are not sent out alone, but we ARE to go and spread the news! (Matthew 28:18-20). We have a world in front of us that is awaiting the hope we’ve been given.
For those who have yet to hear, let them hear, for…
“We only have language as knowledgable as the language we’ve allowed ourselves to hear.”
That simple phrase from my professor shook me. Because it’s no wonder we have a broken world if the world has yet to hear or see an authentic and genuine version of the God of the Bible. The Son of God sat with sinners, ate with the tax collectors and prostitutes, saw His people for who He created them to be rather than what the world warped them into, and He spoke words of life even when death surrounded Him. Are the doors to our churches closed because we’re afraid of who might walk through them? Because we’re afraid that we’ll finally see a ministry like the one Jesus carried out?
My challenge for us all is to emulate compassion. To shine the light of Jesus no matter how dark the room. It’s in our nature to be attracted to light- even if we don’t realize it.
Let us be a generation of Biblical knowledge so that those who have yet to hear the Good News may hear.
Feel free to write a verse that you have personally been encouraged by, a verse that has changed your life, or a verse you feel the world needs to hear in the comments.
Let’s be Light to one another as we carry the Light to the world.
In love,
Halie Kay
