Tuesday, December 10, 2013

A speech worth remembering

I'm pretty sure that as the thousands of people who braved the cold, wet and miserable conditions in the FNB stadium rose to applaud, celebrate and remember the life of a remarkable man, Nelson Mandela, so too the grandstands in heaven must have risen to join them.

I know that throughout the world today, many tuned in to their television stations to watch the speech delivered by The United States of America President, Mr Barak Obama. With great eloquence he spoke of the characteristics that made Mandela a much loved hero the world over.

If there is one skill that has marked some of the greatest leaders in history it would be their great oratory skill. Lincoln's Gettysburg address, Churchill's “we'll fight them on the beaches”, Martin Luther King's “I have a dream” speeches have all been recorded and remembered.

Jesus was one of the greatest orator's of His time. Today we scoff at a crowd of 5000 but caste your mind back 2000 years ago and remember the era as it was. Drawing a crowd of 5000 at that time was a remarkable feat. How did they all even hear a word He said? Well as creator of our world He knew that wood and water both carry and amplify sound. Does the small boat on the water make more sense now?

BUT of all the words ever spoken, no sentence has radically changed more lives than the simple words Jesus spoke on the cross before He died, “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” As Christians we stand in right relationship with God only because of those words.

Words do have power! Choose to use them wisely!


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