Jude II
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen. (Jude 24,25 ESV)
Good Words
The word, ‘benediction’ comes from Latin, and means quite simply, “Good Speaking.”
Words these days get a bum rap. We think talk is cheap, rhetoric is useless, and actions speak louder than words.
But those cliches are not necessarily true.
God’s words count. He created the universe through His words. He gave us His Son, through His word. In fact, Jesus Christ IS the Word long before He did anything on earth.
The Father of Lies has worked hard through the ages to diminish the power of God’s words. But ultimately, Satan fails. God’s Word and words are still the most powerful things in the universe.
God blesses His people first by speaking to us. And what He speaks, His Word, is always good.
We like actions, we like proof, we like evidence, we like fulfilled promises. And while history and our society give us good reason to doubt the words of Emperors, Kings, Presidents, Senators, Mayors, husbands, wives, parents, siblings, neighbors, friends, and even Lassie, God’s Words are true, reliable, powerful, and all that we need.
So God blesses us in this benediction, this good speaking, and that can fill us with hope. God’s good words are greater than all the actions of everyone else.