I haven’t written about words in general for a while. I’d rather write about the Word (Those of you who know all that “the Word” means, know just how special “the Word” is and what it means to us), but there’s a small-w word that has been bugging me lately. Well, actually it’s the use - or the misuse - of a particular word. That word is while, as in “It is common for me to watch a software tutorial while I am eating lunch.”

While is a handy one-syllable (almost two) word that is much easier to say than “at the same time as” or “coincidental with”. Although the single word is simple enough to say, I find that many American English speakers shorten the word so that it sounds similar to the English word why. So, instead of something like “While I’m at the post office, I’ll buy some stamps,” they say something that sounds like “Why I’m at the post office, I’ll buy some stamps.” Now, they can’t mean why, because that is nonsensical. I must assume that they mean while, and their pronunciation is some sort of a contraction for while. Ignoring for the moment that it seems utterly silly to contract a one-syllable word, I’m curious how one should write this contraction. Perhaps “whi’”? Maybe “whi’e”? Those are certainly awkward.

I think that we could avoid the entire conundrum of rendering a suitable textual contraction by simply using the non-contracted word in our speech. Widespread carelessness with our pronunciation can lead to a generation that recognizes no difference between the words why and while and then will be without the ability to explain why it was so.

Just say “while,” people!

Tomorrow, the United States of America will recognize 235 years of independence. Despite what some revisionists may say, it is a reliance upon Biblical principles and an understanding of Christian liberty that led to National independence. Conversely, it is carelessness with and ignorance of these principles that contribute to its downfall and return to bondage.

One often misquoted passage is “The truth shall set you free.” What Jesus said (although probably in Aramaic) is “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” (John 8:31,32). Abide does not mean to visit only on Sundays or to check-in in the morning or perhaps again at night. Abide means to remain with, as your arm or your leg abide with you. I would venture to say that if you or I are not abiding in Christ, then we know neither the truth nor the freedom of which He promised.

When Jesus initiated a relationship with us, He did not stop after the scourging saying, “That’s good enough for me.” He did not stop at the crown of thorns saying, “That is way out of my comfort zone.” He endured the blindfolded beatings, the spitting, and the pulling-out of His beard. He went all the way to the Cross, and with His last breaths declared “It is finished;” completed, paid in full.

I think it worthwhile to ask ourselves what holds us back or what do we hold on to that keeps us from pursuing Christ with the same resolve. What will it take for us to truly abide in Him?

In chapter 6 of the gospel of John, we read of a crowd that traveled in boats across the sea of Galilee seeking Jesus. Knowing their motivation, he told them “…you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled.” (v. 26)

Later they said to Him, “What sign will You perform then, that we may see it and believe You? What work will You do?” (v. 30)

Ultimately, through their words and their actions they reveal that they are interested in what they can get for themselves - the source seems inconsequential.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” (v. 35)

He did not say, “I am the highest mountain of life. Only the super spiritual may be able to climb to my position.” He did not say, “I am the rarest diamond of life. Only the elite may get a glimpse of my wonder.”

He offers Himself as the very bread and drink of life. The essentials of sustenance and survival. He offers Himself to whoever will come and receive Him at the most basic level of need.

Perhaps we are spiritually hungry today because we come to a church seeking the best worship experience, a pleasant social experience, or even a holy moment to enhance our otherwise mundane lives. Christ does not offer Himself as an addition or a supplement, but as the very food and drink that we need to live.

In Colossians chapter 3, we read

For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is our life appears, then you also will appear with Him in glory.

Is Christ your life today?

Richard Wurmbrand, who spent three years in solitary confinement inside a communist prison for his Christian faith, said, “I have found truly joyful Christians only in the Bible, in the Underground Church, and in prison.”

May God help us to recognize our spiritual malnourishment and create in us a hunger and thirst for Jesus that we will cause us not to rest until He is our very life.

But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who diligently seek Him. - Hebrews. 11:6

The spectrum of unbelievers does not simply run from atheists - who dismiss the notion of God - to agnostics - who are undecided about God - but also includes many churchgoers that attend services solely for a sense of community or even religious duty. If you believe in God then you do well, the Apostle James tells us, but even the demons believe and tremble (James 2:19).

To please God, we must also believe that He rewards those who diligently seek Him. Sadly, some who profess to be believers are not seeking Him; even some preachers seek honor or wealth rather than God himself. Jesus said, “Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven.” (Matt. 7:21) He goes on to say that even some who claim to be doing great things for His Kingdom will be told “Depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness!” (Matt. 7:23)

If we say that we believe that God rewards those who diligently seek Him, then why do we sometimes fear to give up something for His Kingdom for fear that we will lose it? Did not the Lord say, “Give, and it will be given to you: good measure, pressed down, shaken together, and running over” ? (Luke 6:38).

I can think of no greater example of diligent seeking than that of Christ Himself, Who came to “seek and save that which was lost.” (Luke 19:10) May we seek the Lord with the a similar devotion; losing ourselves for His sake with the confidence that He will return such blessing upon us that we will not be able to contain it.

As we remember the Last Supper - the Passover seder that Jesus shared with His apostles - the Scriptures call our attention to the 3rd cup of the meal. This cup - the cup of redemption - Jesus said, is the New Covenant in His blood. No doubt, the connection of a cup with a covenant caused those at the table to think of the betrothal process.

In ancient Israel, when a father sought a bride for his son, both father and son would visit the home of the young woman. After negotiating a bride price, the son would hand a cup of wine to the young woman and say, “This is the cup of my covenant”. If she chose to drink it, she became betrothed to the young man. She was seen as the man’s wife, but they would not know each other in the Biblical sense until after the wedding day, The marriage vows were - and are still today - exchanged with another glass of wine.

Interestingly, we do not see Jesus drinking the fourth and final celebratory cup of the Passover. Instead He said after the cup of covenant, “I will not drink from the fruit of the vine again until I drink it new in the Kingdom of God.” Like the betrothed couple, our wedding day with Christ has not yet arrived.

Jewish tradition teaches that one can drink as much wine as they want between the 1st and 2nd cups, and between the 2nd and 3rd cups; however there is to be no drinking between the 3rd and 4th cups.

In Exodus 12:42, we read that the night of Passover, “all the Israelites are to keep vigil to honor the LORD for the generations to come.” How fitting that that night Jesus asked His friends to “watch and pray, lest you fall into temptation.” As we wait for the fourth cup at the marriage supper of the Lamb, where we will be forever united with Christ, may we remain sober, watching and praying, and found faithful when He returns for His bride.