by Pastor Douglas Brauner

Words of Healing

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link.

It’s fun to receive a kiss blown from a toddler. They’re frequently delivered with enthusiasm and a smile. A blown kiss deserves another blown kiss in return. Children will often receive the return kiss with as much enthusiasm as the one they gave.

However, what looks like a blown kiss by this gnome is actually a picture of him putting his hands over his lips to keep him from speaking evil. You see, there are two other gnomes standing next to this guy. One of them is covering his ears, the other his eyes.

Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil.

The same mouth that blows kisses can also speak lies, spread gossip, and humiliate others. What can make us smile can also make us cry.

“Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.”
Proverbs 13:3 English Standard Version

We have been the recipients of the tongues power to heal and hurt and also the users of these powers. We have been healed and hurt by words, and we have healed and hurt others by our words. It’s no wonder that Solomon calls us to guard our mouths.

Yet, how difficult it is to guard our words! We find ourselves in a daily battle to listen more than we speak, to understand before we seek to be understood.

The Apostle John calls Jesus the Word of God (John 1:1). He is the Word of healing. He is the Word that took on flesh (John 1:14). Though at times the words of Jesus cut deep into our lives, they are still words that work healing and produce hope. His word is the word that we need more than anything else.

Jesus, the Word made flesh, is God’s blown kiss into our lives. And with his kiss we learn to use our words differently. Our words, rooted in Jesus, can bring healing instead of hurt.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado