The Most Important Word
Some of you may have heard my discourse on the "most important word," but it is worth repeating at this point. It is not original with me. Dr. Oscar Thompson, one of my evangelism professors at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, taught me this profound truth. He learned it from the Lord, when He was reading through the New Testament every 30 days. By reading that fast the main themes of God's Word jumped out at him. It was then that he saw the most important word for any person in any language.
Now, you might think that since it was a seminary that the answer is God. The word God is important, but that is not the most important word, and neither is Jesus. I have heard other people say that the most important word to each individual is his or her own name. I agree that we have a definite connection to our own names. However, that is not the word, either.
The most important word has to do with the most important thing for all people everywhere. It is what causes us the most joy and the most pain. It is where we find our security or the lack of it. Think about it. What consumes your life? What is the focus of much of your time? It all boils down to "relationship." Your life and my life is bound up in our ability to form relationships. That is a part of being made in the image of God. We can and should have a relationship with Him. The state of our relationship with Him makes all of the difference in this life and in the next life. Also, our lives are filled with other relationships. Those relationships make up the bulk of our lives. We are to love others. We are to seek to share the love of Christ with them, but without relationship that is impossible or ineffective. Therefore, the most important word is "relationship."
If that is true, which I believe it is, how should our lives be different? How should we put the emphasis on our relationship with God and others? How can we form healthy relationships? Those are the questions that lead us to real and meaningful life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 39-40 and Matthew 11.
Now, you might think that since it was a seminary that the answer is God. The word God is important, but that is not the most important word, and neither is Jesus. I have heard other people say that the most important word to each individual is his or her own name. I agree that we have a definite connection to our own names. However, that is not the word, either.
The most important word has to do with the most important thing for all people everywhere. It is what causes us the most joy and the most pain. It is where we find our security or the lack of it. Think about it. What consumes your life? What is the focus of much of your time? It all boils down to "relationship." Your life and my life is bound up in our ability to form relationships. That is a part of being made in the image of God. We can and should have a relationship with Him. The state of our relationship with Him makes all of the difference in this life and in the next life. Also, our lives are filled with other relationships. Those relationships make up the bulk of our lives. We are to love others. We are to seek to share the love of Christ with them, but without relationship that is impossible or ineffective. Therefore, the most important word is "relationship."
If that is true, which I believe it is, how should our lives be different? How should we put the emphasis on our relationship with God and others? How can we form healthy relationships? Those are the questions that lead us to real and meaningful life.
Tomorrow, I intend to read Genesis 39-40 and Matthew 11.