Greetings Lifers,
What is it called when one word can mean at least two different things, depending on the context/spelling? You know, like someone can be “right” when they turn “right”, but the first use of right means “correct” and the second is the “opposite of left”. Or how about getting “left” because you failed to turn “left”? I know when you use a word the wrong way it’s called a malapropism, but I can’t remember the word for this lingual phenomenon. Hang on – that’s why God made Google (be right back).
Back – and I found it. Homonym – a word that sounds (and is usually spelled) the same but has different meanings. I knew there was a word for it. Okay, so why the grammar lesson? I’ll tell you.
In my personal experience, I find that my life is shaped by which side I choose this particular homonym I am thinking of, especially when things that I would rather not have to live through come into my life. Here’s what I mean - my flesh looks at my troubles and immediately says. “AWWW!” as in, “Aww man, why did this have to happen to me now?” When I choose this side of the homonym, I trend in the direction of self pity and disappointment with God and His plan. Now, since trials almost always spin off into more trials (have you noticed this? Job loss leads to money crunch leads to marital angst leads to personal anger leads to words I wish I could take back... getting the picture?), I find that this path leads to innumerable “AWWW’s”, each one acting as a shovel to dirt, digging deeper the hole of discouragement. This is certainly a choice we have the right to make, but my take on the Scriptures is that this “AWWW” is not what God had in mind for us when He sent His Son for our sakes. In fact, Jesus came and died so that we could live out of the other side of this homonym.
He came that we might live in AWE.
Same word (except for the “e”), but something completely different from the flesh “AWWW”. Essentially, when you and I face life's messes, we choose between “AWWW” or “AWE”. When we stay in awe of what God has done, is doing, and will accomplish in our lives through our mess, we go through messes clinging to Him rather than angry at Him. The early church in Acts 2:43 was filled with this kind of awe, and it altered the way they handled their things and each other. Awe made them generous, allowing them to see past their own needs to the needs of their brothers and sisters, and gave them a perspective in life that lead to peace, even when things weren’t peaceful. What else could make a guy like Stephen preach the gospel so clearly that his incensed listeners picked up rocks and threw them at him? He was in awe of his Savior, so much so that his own well being came a distant second. Is this kind of awe what the apostle Paul was teaching the Philippians to pursue when he demanded that they be anxious for nothing but instead look to God in everything, asking Him for what they needed while thanking Him for what He had done (AWE alert!)? And is this kind of awe the source of the peace that surpasses human understanding (Philippians 4:6-7)? Methinks ‘tis true.
So, in whatever you face today, or in your tomorrow, or in your yesterday that has the residual strength to mess you up now, my simple prayer for you is this - that you will choose “AWE” over “AWWW” every time, by the grace of our awesome God who promises to walk us through our awful things. Blessings, my friends.
Back – and I found it. Homonym – a word that sounds (and is usually spelled) the same but has different meanings. I knew there was a word for it. Okay, so why the grammar lesson? I’ll tell you.
In my personal experience, I find that my life is shaped by which side I choose this particular homonym I am thinking of, especially when things that I would rather not have to live through come into my life. Here’s what I mean - my flesh looks at my troubles and immediately says. “AWWW!” as in, “Aww man, why did this have to happen to me now?” When I choose this side of the homonym, I trend in the direction of self pity and disappointment with God and His plan. Now, since trials almost always spin off into more trials (have you noticed this? Job loss leads to money crunch leads to marital angst leads to personal anger leads to words I wish I could take back... getting the picture?), I find that this path leads to innumerable “AWWW’s”, each one acting as a shovel to dirt, digging deeper the hole of discouragement. This is certainly a choice we have the right to make, but my take on the Scriptures is that this “AWWW” is not what God had in mind for us when He sent His Son for our sakes. In fact, Jesus came and died so that we could live out of the other side of this homonym.
He came that we might live in AWE.
Same word (except for the “e”), but something completely different from the flesh “AWWW”. Essentially, when you and I face life's messes, we choose between “AWWW” or “AWE”. When we stay in awe of what God has done, is doing, and will accomplish in our lives through our mess, we go through messes clinging to Him rather than angry at Him. The early church in Acts 2:43 was filled with this kind of awe, and it altered the way they handled their things and each other. Awe made them generous, allowing them to see past their own needs to the needs of their brothers and sisters, and gave them a perspective in life that lead to peace, even when things weren’t peaceful. What else could make a guy like Stephen preach the gospel so clearly that his incensed listeners picked up rocks and threw them at him? He was in awe of his Savior, so much so that his own well being came a distant second. Is this kind of awe what the apostle Paul was teaching the Philippians to pursue when he demanded that they be anxious for nothing but instead look to God in everything, asking Him for what they needed while thanking Him for what He had done (AWE alert!)? And is this kind of awe the source of the peace that surpasses human understanding (Philippians 4:6-7)? Methinks ‘tis true.
So, in whatever you face today, or in your tomorrow, or in your yesterday that has the residual strength to mess you up now, my simple prayer for you is this - that you will choose “AWE” over “AWWW” every time, by the grace of our awesome God who promises to walk us through our awful things. Blessings, my friends.
Peace,
Mark
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· Prayer Night - Sep 27 | 7 pm in the Student Center
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