Abracadabra

Abracadabra

1. Gossip: A man in a small village was found guilty of starting a malicious rumor about another man. This rumor was not only untrue, but it had seriously damaged the other man’s reputation and family. As is often the custom in small villages, the accused was taken before the chief, who heard the case and decided the man’s punishment if found guilty.

After hearing the facts of the case, the chief found the accused to be guilty and handed the man a large bag of feathers. He told the guilty man that his only punishment would be to place a feather on the doorstep of every person to whom he told the rumor. The man was relieved at such a light punishment and quickly took the bag and went about his task. Four hours later, the man returned to the chief with the empty bag and said, "I completed your task, sir. Is there anything else?"

"Yes, the wise chief replied. Report to me in the morning, and I’ll give you the second half of your punishment." The man arrived the next morning and was instructed to gather all the feathers and place them in the bag. "But sir," the man replied, "didn’t you hear the storm that raged through our village last night? It would be impossible to know where those feathers are now."

The wise old chief raised his index finger and pointed knowingly at the man, "Now you see the damage that you have done to another. For although you told only a few lies here and there, the storm of gossip took hold of those lies and spread them far beyond your grasp to undo them. You can regret what you said, but you can never fully undo what you’ve said."...

· James uses the word fire when describing the tongue. James 3:5-6 (NKJV):

5 Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.

2. The Bible emphasizes the source of words – God’s thunder and ours.

a. A Christian man who got angry on the job and let loose a string of profanity. Embarrassed, he turned to his co-worker and said, “I don’t know why I said all that. It really isn’t in me to talk that way.” His co-worker replied, “It had to be in you or it couldn’t have come out of you.”

b. Matthew 12:34-37 34 You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. 35 The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. 36 But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. 37 For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

3. The Bible reveals the power of words.

The word "abracadabra" is primarily understood as a magical incantation or charm used in magic tricks, symbolizing the moment a magical effect is supposed to occur. Its meaning is more accurately translated as "I will create as I speak" or "It will be created as I speak," a concept derived from proposed Aramaic or Hebrew origins. This interpretation suggests a powerful link between spoken words and the creation of reality. While the word is widely associated with magic and illusion, it can also be used more broadly to describe nonsense, meaningless talk, or complex jargon.

I. God’s Word(s) Are Creative

A. Creation in the physical realm: “And God said, 'Let there be light'; and there was light.” Each part of creation begins with “And God said.”

B. The indwelling word produces

a. Worship – Colossians 3:16 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs

b. Inward Transformation Expressed Outwardly – Colossians 3:12-15 12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. 14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. 15 And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful.