God’s Words
How important are God’s words? Seriously, let’s think about it.
We speak. Sometimes eloquently. But more often our words are hot air blowing off steam at someone or something.
According to Scripture, our words reveal our inner selves. In Luke 6:45, Jesus said to a crowd,
A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
If this is true of mankind, and we are made in the image of God, how much more is it true of the Father? God’s words reveal His heart. And it just might be important to know what’s in our Father’s heart.
A Treasure Hunt
It all began January 19, 2026. My two devotions for the day centered on the topic of God and His word.
One devotion led me to 1 Thessalonians 2:13.
For this reason we also thank God without ceasing, because when you received the word of God which you heard from us, you welcomed it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which also effectively works in you who believe.
If I believe God is Who He says He is and believe His word is not just a gathering of useless fluff but is treasure from the heart of the Father, then His word works in me for good.
The second devotion led me to Ephesians 5:8-10.
For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of the Spirit is in all goodness, righteousness, and truth), finding out what is acceptable to the Lord.
The question is, how do I find out what is acceptable to the Lord?
The same way we learn what any one of our friends or family members approve. We spend time with them and listen to them. If we want to know what is acceptable to our Creator, we listen to His words, which reveal His heart.
After reading the two devotionals, I picked up my Bible reading where I left off in Hebrews. And once again I was confronted with the same topic. The word of God.
For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart (Hebrews 4:12).
God often emphasizes a thought by duplicating a message. And when He speaks a third time on a topic, I know I must pay close attention. This particular day, the words jumped off the page at me when He repeated Himself again.
And so began my treasure hunt. Just what all does the Bible have to say about the word of God?
Words for Word
Many words in our English Bible translations come from more than one Hebrew or Greek words. The English term “word” is one of those.
Some New Testament verses have the Greek word logos (λόγος) while other verses contain the word rhema (ῥῆμα.) But both Greek words are translated into English as word.
Logos is used in 1 Thessalonians 2:13 and Hebrews 4:12 which were quoted above. But it’s also used in Hebrews 4:2.
For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.
God’s word is living and powerful. But it doesn’t profit us unless we believe. Like yeast and dough. Yeast is a powerful agent. But if it isn’t properly mixed with other ingredients, there will be no rise to the dough. The yeast is not profitable at that point. So it is, God’s word is not profitable to us unless it’s mixed with faith.
Rhema is used in other places.
In Matthew 4:4, Jesus said, “It is written, ‘Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God.’ ”
And in Romans 10:17, we read, “faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
So while we need to hear God’s words in order to have faith, we also need to believe in the word of God in order for it to work effectively within us.
God Speaks
According to the Bible, in the beginning of time, God spoke and there was light (Genesis 1: 3). He continued to speak and brought forth the heavens and earth, plants on the earth and lights in the sky, birds in the air, fish in the sea, and animals on the land. God’s word was powerful enough to create (Genesis 1).
In John 1:1 we learn more about God’s word.
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.“
Here again, Word is translated from the Greek word Logos. And according to the writer of Hebrews, God “has in these last days spoken to us by His Son, whom He has appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the worlds” (Hebrews 1:2).
It’s amazing that our Creator wants us to know Him so badly He speaks and continues speaking. He spoke to create and then speaks through His creation to show us His power. He spoke to us through the prophets and because He wanted future generations to know what was said, He had His words written for us to read today. And when His creation and the prophets weren’t enough, God spoke of His great love for us by sending the Living Word, His Son Jesus the Christ, to speak to us in person and then die for us.
God’s Words
Over the next few days, other verses came to mind. God’s Holy Spirit takes the words of God we’ve read or memorized and brings them to our attention when we need them. In this case, the words came from Psalm 119:11.
Your word I have hidden in my heart,
That I might not sin against You.
But the Old Testament was written in Hebrew. And the Hebrew word for word in this verse is ‘imrâ (אִמְרָה,) which means commandment, speech, or word.
And so my search continued. Following just that one Hebrew word for word, Scripture describes the word of God as proven (Psalm 18:30), pure (Psalm 12:6), sweeter than honey (Psalm 119:103), like silver tried in the furnace of fire (Psalm 12:6).
But I discovered, ‘imrâ isn’t the only Hebrew word translated into English as word.
In Psalm 33:6, the Psalmist says,
By the word of the LORD the heavens were made,
And all the host of them by the breath of His mouth.
But this time the Hebrew word is dāḇār (דָּבָר,) meaning a word or a matter as spoken of.
Perhaps this is why I’m still treasure hunting.
Conclusion
God’s words are many. And if we believe He is and that He speaks and His words matter, He is willing and eager to show Himself to us.
I’m still following the thread He gave me in January. How fun to hunt in God’s word for places where He talks about His words. Maybe I’ll share more later. But for now, let me leave you with a few other verses which use the word dāḇār. Maybe you’ll want to go treasure hunting, too!
The entrance of Your words gives light;
It gives understanding to the simple (Psalm 119:130).
The entirety of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous judgments endures forever (Psalm 119:160).
And a verse many know well.
Your word is a lamp to my feet
And a light to my path (Psalm 119:105).
God’s words are important. Do we believe this? Are we willing to spend time reading or listening to His words and hiding them in our hearts?
Today’s world is dark. We need the light of God’s words to guide us through the maze of ideas and thoughts thrown about us. I pray all of us are eager to hear the heart of the Father as He speaks. And willing to listen to His words so we can walk well with Him.
(Scripture: New King James Version; Photos: Taken by Carolyn Thigpen, Tribble Mill Park)
