A Time To Speak

My friend and I were walking from church the other day when we met a man, who approached us and asked if we had a token for the Greyhound bus. We did not have tokens, and he was hesitant to accept money. He had just come to Los Angeles from Mexico, and looked tired and desperate to get to his next destination. I could smell alcohol on him, and he was doing his best to communicate with us in English.

He asked us to pray for him, and we did. We offered to walk him to church, but he was in a rush. Before he left, I said to him, “Cristo Te Bendiga”- Christ bless you. He froze and stared at me, and said, “Otra vez,” or in other words “Say it again”, so I told him again. He was grateful to hear that, and went on his way.

Our words are powerful, and the Name of Jesus brings life to those who are broken and hurting. A simple phrase made a big impact on that man. I felt like Peter and John from the book of Acts, when Peter said to the beggar: “Silver or gold I do not have, but what I have I give you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, walk."

We can build people up and tear people down with our words, and every, little thing that we say carries weight, whether we realize it or not. I didn’t expect that man to respond the way that he did to my words. What’s coming out of your mouth?

-Shimmy