If today’s title reminds you of the hymn written by Phillip Bliss, it’s not by accident. The Bible is “wonderful words of life” in pointing to the greatness of God, the work of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the message of the Gospel. Let’s reflect on this hymn-truth.
1 Sing them over again to me,
wonderful words of life;
let me more of their beauty see,
wonderful words of life;
words of life and beauty,
teach me faith and duty.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
2 Christ, the blessed one, gives to all
wonderful words of life;
sinner, list to the loving call,
wonderful words of life;
all so freely given,
wooing us to heaven.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
3 Sweetly echo the gospel call,
wonderful words of life;
offer pardon and peace to all,
wonderful words of life;
Jesus, only Savior,
sanctify forever.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Psalm 119:129 (ESV) — 129 Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them.
When we consider the testimonies of God throughout His word, we find encouragement, awe, and gratitude. In fact, our faith and hope are built up as we consider what God has done in the past and how He has worked in and through people to His glory.
Romans 15:4 (ESV) — 4 For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.
Testimony to the works of God was what was taking place on the Day of Pentecost. It wasn’t an unknown tongue that was being spoken, rather the people who were gathered for the feast from all over the known world at the time, heard the testimony from the followers of Christ to the wonderful works of God.
Acts 2:7–11 (ESV) — 7 And they were amazed and astonished, saying, “Are not all these who are speaking Galileans? 8 And how is it that we hear, each of us in his own native language? 9 Parthians and Medes and Elamites and residents of Mesopotamia, Judea and Cappadocia, Pontus and Asia, 10 Phrygia and Pamphylia, Egypt and the parts of Libya belonging to Cyrene, and visitors from Rome, 11 both Jews and proselytes, Cretans and Arabians—we hear them telling in our own tongues the mighty works of God.”
God’s testimonies are wonderful, His works are wonderful, so it follows that the Lord Jesus Christ would be described as “wonderful.”
Isaiah 9:6 (ESV) — 6 For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Consider the wonder of God’s word. God’s word is eternal as God is eternal. God has even promised to protect and preserve His word. God’s word bears the same cause for reverence as God, Himself. God’s word is alive because it is given, protected, and made effective by the Holy Spirit.
Psalm 119:89 (ESV) — 89 Forever, O Lord, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.
Psalm 119:160 (ESV) — 160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.
Matthew 24:35 (ESV) — 35 Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away.
Psalm 138:2 (ESV) — 2 I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word.
Hebrews 4:12–13 (ESV) — 12 For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. 13 And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.
Psalm 12:6–7 (ESV) — 6 The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. 7 You, O Lord, will keep them; you will guard us from this generation forever.
Isaiah 55:10–11 (ESV) — 10 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose, and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.
It is the Holy Spirit Who takes the word of God and brings the life changing, resurrection power to the person to whom the word of God is directed and lives are changed. Just as the life-giving voice of the Son of God through the operation of the Holy Spirit brings life to a person who previously is dead in sin, so His life-giving voice will speak the word and He will raise the dead when He returns.
John 6:63 (ESV) — 63 It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life.
John 5:25–29 (ESV) — 25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself. 27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
The word of God can best be described as “wonderful words of life,” just as Philip Blisswrote:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
wonderful words of life.
Godspeed,
Bob Brubaker, Pastor
Christ Community Presbyterian Church
Clearwater, FL
