Struthers Memorial Church
  • Home
  • About
    • Background
    • What we believe
    • Youth
    • Cedars School of Excellence
    • Privacy Notice
    • Giving
  • New Year Word
  • Churches
    • Scotland >
      • Greenock
      • Gourock
      • Falkirk
      • Glasgow
      • Edinburgh
      • Cumbernauld
      • Newmains
      • Port Glasgow
    • Wales
    • England >
      • Aylesbury, London
  • Bookshops
  • Contact
  • New Year Word

Thought for the Week

Sapphires

8/3/2022

0 Comments

 
This week's Thought is written by Pauline Anderson.
​

Gracious words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones. (Proverbs 16:24)
Many of the words in the English language derive from words from other languages. It’s estimated that around 30% of our words in English are from French origin while around 60% of our vocabulary has its roots in Latin or Greek.

The word ‘sapphire’ comes from the French word ‘saphir’ which is from the Latin ‘sophirus'. This, in turn comes from the Greek ‘zafeiri', which originates from an ancient Biblical word ‘sappir’. ‘Sappir' means 'to speak, to tell or to declare.' Let’s look at two important lessons we can learn from this. 

Firstly, the sapphire is an exceeding precious jewel. But more precious than any jewel are the words that God speaks to us personally. These are His sapphires. Do we treasure each word that God speaks to us? Is it precious to us or do we sometimes take His word for granted?

Secondly there are many verses in the Bible that encourage us to speak, to tell or declare to others in a way that is helpful. These should be our sapphires. Here are some examples:

  •  A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. (Proverbs 15:1)
  • Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification. (Ephesians 4:29)
  • Anxiety weighs down the heart, but a kind word cheers it up. (Proverbs 12:25)


Someone has said, “Our words are stones. We are nothing but stone throwers with each word we speak. If our words contain beauty people treasure them. If our words contain pain people toss them aside, but not until after they have had to deal with the wound they caused.” (https://snailpacetransformations.com/)

Every time we communicate with others we have a choice as to what will come from our mouths.  Stones or sapphires. The choice is yours. What will it be?

​Pauline

0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

ABOUT US

Background
What we believe
Cedars School
​Policies
​
Privacy Notice

CHURCHES

Scotland
England
Wales

BOOKSHOPS

Greenock
Glasgow

EVENTS

What's on
Fire Conference
New Year Word
Music

CONTACT

Contact us

Picture
Copyright © 2014  Struthers Memorial Church  All rights reserved  
Struthers Memorial Church is a registered Scottish Charity No. SC 006960  |  Struthers Memorial Church is a company limited by guarantee incorporated in Scotland  Company No SC335480  |  Registered Office: 33 West Stewart Street, Greenock, PA15 1SH. 
  • Home
  • About
    • Background
    • What we believe
    • Youth
    • Cedars School of Excellence
    • Privacy Notice
    • Giving
  • New Year Word
  • Churches
    • Scotland >
      • Greenock
      • Gourock
      • Falkirk
      • Glasgow
      • Edinburgh
      • Cumbernauld
      • Newmains
      • Port Glasgow
    • Wales
    • England >
      • Aylesbury, London
  • Bookshops
  • Contact
  • New Year Word