There's No Place Like Home

“As cold water to a weary soul, So is good news from a far country.”

Proverbs 25:25


As our recent trip to Israel made its way through the Jordanian wilderness after leaving Petra our tour guide was sharing with us some “Jordanian Wisdom” on the drive and his thoughts on life and the power of our words. He said, “If you have a poor mouth you have a poor life.” I immediately thought of the book of James where the Bible teaches us, “Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening?” (James 3:11). We all get it, words are powerful and they have a way of either making our day or causing us to wish we had not even got out of bed in the morning. Our tour guide was speaking more about the effects of having (in his words), “positive thoughts” that give way to "positive words" when we speak to others or even ourselves. Again, another passage from the Bible came to mind, “Keep your heart with all diligence, For out of it spring the issues of life” (Proverbs 4:23). All I know for sure is the more he talked about the power words have on our lives the more I longed to hear my wife’s voice back home.
 

Traveling in Israel the last couple of weeks with a wonderful group of friends each day that passed I looked forward all the more to being back home and hearing my wife’s voice in person face to face. There is no questioning if I missed her as when I saw her for the first time when I got home after eleven days my eyes filled with tears. We had sent text messages back and forth each day but only spoke on the phone a couple of times which only heightened my need to hear her voice. God knows the power of a voice as well as the words we speak and the impact our words have on one another. Not hearing my wife’s voice and the effect it had on me emotionally brought to mind some important reminders about the tongue and its power and influence in other people’s lives.  

Realize I was 7,391 miles from home so a verse like Proverbs 25:25 took on a whole new meaning, “As cold water to a weary soul, so is good news from a far country.” You might not be that far away from the people you love today but the need we all share is the same. We long for a good word. Like a cold cup of water in a scorching Israeli desert in the middle of summer so is a good word to a weary traveler going through this life. No one can run your race for you but each of us has the ability to cheer one another on and to offer a cold drink of water as it were by the encouragement we offer. My own thirst made me look forward to hearing my wife’s voice because I knew it would sooth my soul and bridge the gap of the miles that separated us. Are you aware that God’s Word has the same effect on us? The Gospel isn’t called “Good News” for nothing. Jesus came to give life. His Words are life, they are living, living water that Jesus offers freely to all who thirst. John 7:37 tells us, "On the last day, that great day of the feast, Jesus stood and cried out, saying, "If anyone thirsts, let him come to Me and drink." That invitation then is still being offered to us today! Jesus satisfies the longing of our soul even more than a cool glass of water satisfies our thirst.

It makes no difference if you are young or old, married, single, separated or divorced. God loves you! You may feel all alone today or thousands of miles from home but the truth is you have a friend in Jesus, a friend the Bible says who sticks closer than a brother. Do you need a good word today, to hear the voice of someone who loves you? Pick up your Bible and read the Word for yourself, hear the voice of God on every page as He unfolds His plan, His purposes and His love concerning you. Come home to Jesus! 



"O my dove, in the clefts of the rock, In the secret places of the cliff, Let me see your face, Let me hear your voice; For your voice is sweet, And your face is lovely."

Song of Songs 2:14


I LOVE YOU!