A Vocabulary Test

Nathan Stam
Children/Communications Pastor

I used to love vocabulary tests when I was in school. I always thought it was cool when the teacher would tell us to exchange papers with someone around us and then we would grade each others' work. Oooooh, I would think to myself, the power that is in my hands!

Did you know the average person has a vocabulary of 20,000 words, but linguists have shown that in that person's lifetime he or she will express four to five million different ideas? The words must be used in many different combinations with many different meanings in order to meet the need.

So, what is your vocabulary like? What ideas do you express with that vocabulary? It's an important question. James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote in his letter: 

For every creature—animal or bird, reptile or fish—is tamed and has been tamed by man, but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men who are made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things should not be this way. Does a spring pour out sweet and bitter water from the same opening? Can a fig tree produce olives, my brothers, or a grapevine [produce] figs? Neither can a saltwater spring yield fresh water.

What kind of influences do you allow in your life that shape the way you speak? What kind of influences do you allow in your childrens' lives that affect how they speak?

The best influence on our vocabulary is the Word of God!

Let Psalm 119:9-16 be the declaration of your life and your speech will reflect the calling of God on your life:

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping Your word.

I have sought You with all my heart;
don't let me wander from Your commands.

I have treasured Your word in my heart
so that I may not sin against You.

LORD, may You be praised;
teach me Your statutes.

With my lips I proclaim
all the judgments from Your mouth.

I rejoice in the way [revealed by] Your decrees
as much as in all riches.

I will meditate on Your precepts
and think about Your ways.

I will delight in Your statutes;
I will not forget Your word.