What would you want?
GOOD LUCK OR GOD TO BLESS—
What if Paul had told us, "Good Luck" or "I wish the Best for you"? Would his words have had as much power and meaning?
Would he have been able to build in us a faith in Christ Jesus?
I think not.
Let us look at what the use of some common words like "good luck" are doing to us and our witness.
Here are a few verses from Paul's letters where he might have used some of the common words that we all too often use.
Let us see what they would sound like.
As Paul wrote it:
1 Cor. 13:11 (NIV) “Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.”
Common words. (What we might say.)
“Finally, brothers, good-by. Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. AND MAY GOOD LUCK BE WITH YOU.”
As Paul wrote it:
I Cor. 13:14 “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.”
Common Words.
“May you have GOOD LUCK and the best that fortune has to offer you all.”
As Paul wrote it:
Gal. 1:3 "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Common words.
"The best of luck and I hope you well."
As Paul wrote it:
Gal. 6:18 "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers. Amen."
Common words.
"Good luck and may you feel well, friends."
As Paul wrote it:
Phil. 4:19 “And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.”
Common words.
"May you have the best of luck in getting all you need."
These are enough examples of what I am trying to draw our attention to. Our use of the words or phrases like "luck" or "Good luck" does not have the intensity or feeling that we, as Christians, need to have and show. They do not show any source of good feelings or personal comforts or whatever is to be expected or received; they convey a meaning of chance or maybe The - 'I want to be hopeful, but it probably won't work out' - feeling.
To give GLORY to God, we need to bring him into our lives by using words that bring him into our daily speech. To encourage one another, we need to bring into our everyday speech words which display and build our faith and others in God.
To be a witness to the world, we need to bring words into our everyday speech which show our dependence on God as the source of all our needs–our physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual needs,
When we are concerned with our Christ-likeness, we will encourage one another to be careful with our words: — lovingly encouraging each other to speak up for Christ.
Please use Christ-centered words. Will you encourage me to use Christ-centered words?
Mark 8:38 “If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels.”Gal. 6: 1-10 "Brothers, if a man is trapped in some sin, you who are spiritual should restore him gently. But watch yourself; you also may be tempted. Carry each other's burdens, and in this way, fulfill the law of Christ. If anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Each man should test his own actions. Then he can take pride in himself without comparing himself to somebody else, for each man should carry his own load. Anyone who receives instruction in the Word must share all good things with his instructor. Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature, will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit, will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
