The last of the sunset was quickly slipping below the tree line when we finally made it outside. Each evening we feed the fish at the edge of the lake behind our house. As my husband and I stood watching after spreading the bits of food across the water, the larger bluegill began breaking the surface. Their rapid rise and dive caused a sudden splash on my left and as I turned toward the sound, I saw the circle of ripples fan out some twenty to thirty feet. Multiple splashes now exploded near the bank and out on the open water where schools of bait fish stirred the surface as if rain was coming in the distance.
All at once I thought of my family of faith- God’s children in my little pond and extending like the oceans around the world. As we feed daily on God’s beautiful and powerful living Word, we are making ripples with our words, our posts, and our conversations that bring light and life. In our comings and goings, we make little splashes that leave ripples long after our departure, but as we return to the Author of our faith again and again to be fed, we keep showing up for our people, showing up in exactly the places and times that God intended, pointing always to Jesus. At some point, the ripples merge and gradually the entire surface is covered.
It was always meant to be this way, ever since God placed the first man and woman in the garden. We were meant to find our identity and significance in communing with our Creator and Sustainer. We were designed to multiply and fill the earth with His image. His image-bearers in bodies that can barely contain His glory were meant to shine through all the cracks and crevices, spilling out His love and mercy and forgiveness in praise until all on earth has heard!
“And the Good News about the Kingdom will be preached throughout the whole world, so that all nations will hear it; and then the end will come.”
Matthew 24:14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.24.14.NLT
“You are the salt of the earth.
But what good is salt if it has lost its flavor?
Can you make it salty again?
It will be thrown out and trampled underfoot as worthless.
Salt is excellent for seasoning.
But if salt becomes tasteless, how can its flavor ever be restored?
Your lives, like salt, are to season and preserve.
So don’t lose your flavor, and preserve the peace in your union with one another.
You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.
No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket.
Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, where it gives light to everyone in the house.
In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father.”
Matthew 5:13-16 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.5.13-16.NLT
Mark 9:50 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mrk.9.50.TPT
We are to steward the Word of God every minute of every day in all the places we live and work and play without exception. A steward once represented a monarch and still represent countries, companies, airlines, and resorts. We have assigned different names and relegated them to a hired position meaning it is one particular person’s responsibility and not our own, but God does not acknowledge our assignments. In order to honor His, we must begin to own the role of steward. We represent the One who is all things and owns all things, the one who granted us authority in His Son, to carry His Words throughout all the earth until all have heard.
“Then Jesus came close to them and said,
“All authority of the universe has been given to me.
Now wherever you go, make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
And teach them to faithfully follow all that I have commanded you.
And never forget that I am with you every day, even to the completion of this age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 TPT
https://bible.com/bible/1849/mat.28.18-20.TPT
“So, my son, throw yourself into this work for Christ.
Pass on what you heard from me—the whole congregation saying Amen!—to reliable leaders who are competent to teach others.
When the going gets rough, take it on the chin with the rest of us, the way Jesus did.
A soldier on duty doesn’t get caught up in making deals at the marketplace.
He concentrates on carrying out orders.
An athlete who refuses to play by the rules will never get anywhere.
It’s the diligent farmer who gets the produce.
Think it over. God will make it all plain.”
2 Timothy 2:1-7 MSG
https://bible.com/bible/97/2ti.2.1-7.MSG
“Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.”
Proverbs 18:20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.18.20.NLT
“The wise are glad to be instructed, but babbling fools fall flat on their faces.
The words of the godly are a life-giving fountain; the words of the wicked conceal violent intentions.
Wise words come from the lips of people with understanding, but those lacking sense will be beaten with a rod.
Wise people treasure knowledge, but the babbling of a fool invites disaster.
Hiding hatred makes you a liar; slandering others makes you a fool.
Too much talk leads to sin.
Be sensible and keep your mouth shut.
The words of the godly are like sterling silver; the heart of a fool is worthless.
The words of the godly encourage many, but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.
The mouth of the godly person gives wise advice, but the tongue that deceives will be cut off.
The lips of the godly speak helpful words, but the mouth of the wicked speaks perverse words.”
Proverbs 10:8, 11, 13-14, 18-21, 31-32 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/pro.10.32.NLT
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart.
And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle or careless word you speak.
The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.””
Matthew 12:35-37 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/mat.12.35-37.NLT
We must never abuse the incredible influence entrusted to us by our Father God by being careless with our words. Solomon warned the king’s sons with couplets that illustrate the stark contrast between words spoken intentionally and with wisdom and those spoken off the cuff in haste. One misleads and the other instructs. One brings only death and the other gives life. Words can heal or divide and I have often stirred up a proverbial hornet’s nest by repeating a simple comment without first taking it before the Lord for wisdom and discernment. I am His ambassador, therefore He has the final say.
“And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ.
And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them.
And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.
So we are Christ’s ambassadors; God is making his appeal through us.
We speak for Christ when we plead, “Come back to God!”
For God made Christ, who never sinned, to be the offering for our sin, so that we could be made right with God through Christ.”
2 Corinthians 5:18-21 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2co.5.18-21.NLT
“The rain and snow come down from the heavens and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow, producing seed for the farmer and bread for the hungry.
It is the same with My Word.
I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it.”
Isaiah 55:10-11 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/isa.55.10-11.NLT
“Heaven and earth will disappear, but my words will never disappear.”
Mark 13:31 NLT
A Fitting Reply 
Thank you for sharing. I needed to read this!
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