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My experience in public speaking has taught me that you have to be careful with words. Inevitably, words that are reckless, ill-timed or simply misstatements can over-shadow all the well thought out appropriate statements we make. I once used a word in a humorous illustration that took on a life of its own. To this day, I cringe at the very thought of it, but there was no retracting it.  Our words have meaning to those who hear them, whether reckless or full of wisdom. Thankfully, we have a source of words that is always right and full of wisdom.

Words from the lips of Christ never came without meaning. As I am traveling through the Gospel of John, I am reminded of His life-changing words that present salvation, abundant life, resurrection power and confidence in prayer. You may have read and re-read these statements over the years. In them we find hope for eternity and joy for living. Take note of these words of Jesus, and think on their meaning.

To the woman caught in adultery, He said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

His purpose for Christ-followers is seen in the words, “I have come that they may have life and that they may have it more abundantly.”

When He came to the tomb of Lazarus, Christ cried out, “Lazarus, come forth!”

He left no doubt about the only way of eternal life with His words, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”

Christ gave us confidence to pray with these words, “If you abide in Me, and My words abide in you, you will ask what you desire, and it shall be done for you.”

These scenes from the life of Christ give us clarity on the heart of our Savior; His incredible wisdom and unparalleled compassion in forgiving the woman caught in adultery and His desire for His followers to have abundant life.  They clearly demonstrate His power as He speaks and His dear friend Lazarus is raised from the dead.  They proclaim the absolute truth that there is only one way … through Him. And they offer a promise and gift absolute confidence if we simply abide in Him and His words abide in us.

These words of Jesus and every other one He spoke in Scripture can be trusted. Too often, we read the marvelous counsel He gives us and then refrain from applying it. To know the forgiving Savior, who is the only way to heaven, and who promises abundant life to His followers and who tells us He will answer prayer is, to say the least, life-changing. And to top it off, He has the power to resurrect, and did so Himself. Forgive us God when we are not careful and your Son’s life changing words become too ordinary and lose their emphasis.

In making my point on the day of my ill-timed illustration, I wonder what most people remembered. Was it the presentation of biblical truths relevant to their lives, or my faux pas? What we all need to seek and remember (from the words of Jesus) is the life-changing power of God available to us in salvation. His words tell the story of forgiveness, hope, and abundant life, and they are right at our finger tips in the pages of His Word. We must all look inward and evaluate if His life-changing words are fresh and vibrant, or have they become too ordinary.

How will you answer? What should you do?