Lesson 38. Communication—A Language of Love

The greatest gift given to a human being is the ability to express thoughts and feelings in words. In addition, we receive the ability to perceive what we hear, transforming it in our minds into particular images and feelings. People were created to communicate with one another. From a person’s words, one can very quickly determine the level of that person’s intellectual development, as well as who the person is, what interests them, what they live by, and what they feed their mind upon.

Words can express our love and our attitude toward other people. When communicating with one another, we perceive not only the meaning of what is said but also the intonation and spirit that give the words their true meaning. Try saying the same phrase with a smile, with an impassive expression, and with an angry grimace. Each time it will sound different. If a person cannot speak, that person is considered ill, and people try to provide healing.

For many people, communication is their language of love—a language in which they can perceive and express their finest feelings very well. We all understand this language, but not everyone speaks it. Words of love may sound different, but they have one purpose: to make another person’s life better, kindle a lamp of joy and inspiration in the heart of someone near us, and adorn another person’s life with a beautiful perception of reality. Love expressed in words is a seed that, upon entering another person’s heart, begins accomplishing there the purpose for which it was spoken. Words of love possess a special power to transform a person’s soul and give new direction to their thoughts and feelings.

The expression “I love you” carries a special life-giving power that imparts the strongest charge to a person’s soul. Unfortunately, the world has reduced this phrase to the level of animal and confectionery perception, using it to express lustful or consumer desires and thereby degrading the true meaning of love. Yet love still exists, and it can express itself very skillfully through this phrase. Words of strong affection spoken at the right time and place can transform a person’s life and turn their consciousness in a new direction.

Something happened to me when I attended a camp meeting in Novi Obikhody, Ukraine, in 2010, where the Lord gave me many new friends. I remain in contact with them to this day. As I was returning home by bus, one of these friends telephoned me and said during our conversation, “Andrey, we love you.” To me this sounded like the explosion of a bomb. A revolution took place in the thoughts and feelings of my heart. I realized that someone in this world needed me and that I brought much joy and awakened good emotions. I cannot say exactly what this friend meant, but his words gave my thoughts a new impulse and direction. Having experienced such a wonderful transformation of my worldview, I decided to help other people evaluate themselves differently as well. I wanted to kindle this fire in the hearts of those near me. I thought that if it had helped me so greatly, it would help others too. I began asking God for wisdom and started to act. I can tell you at once that I gained even more friends. My words of love are not merely words, but a conscious decision to live and act in precisely this way toward those near me. I will never speak them into the wind or for selfish interests, because I understand that behind these words stands God Himself, Who confirms the word of His servants and performs what they declare.

In response to my words of love, I often hear, “Show me deeds,” or, “Those are only words.” At first I could not understand such an attitude, but then I realized that these people speak other languages of love and await expressions of this gift that are familiar to them.

Nevertheless, our words of love possess a definite power. They are the most powerful weapon, capable of rebuilding ruins, healing souls, raising what has died, curing what is sick, destroying evil, and creating beauty in the life of any person. And if this gift is my language of love and receives Heavenly support, it can accomplish far more than I can imagine.

If I do not possess Heavenly Agape, I will be able to express and give only my human affection, which is very quickly exhausted and becomes useless under serious trials. Within each of us is placed the ability to love and receive love, but without connection to God, the true Source of love, all my abilities are limited and do not possess the power that can overcome and endure all things.

Communication in the spirit of Agape Love has a Heavenly origin. It is precisely this kind of communication that establishes the laws of the Heavenly Kingdom in the lives of friends. Words of love can express the principles of Heavenly relationships among people in a very accessible way.

Our words are not merely sounds, but a special power of the soul closely connected with the invisible spiritual world. The realm of spirits has its own laws and rules. Angels possess a certain strength and authority limited by human choice. In other words, my words give them the opportunity to act according to the command or request that has proceeded from my mouth. If they are words of blessing and love, good angels take them up and transform them into actions, multiplying their power and accomplishing the purpose for which they were spoken. If they are words of cursing, demons immediately take them up and begin their destructive work.

We are told that by our words we will be condemned or justified, and there is meaning in this. It is my words that tell the spiritual world what fills my heart. Through my words I pronounce either sentence or justification upon myself.

What does prayer consist of? Good deeds? Gifts? Touches? I think that through words in prayer I can best express to God the essence of my soul. All my deeds, gifts, and touches reflect the true condition of my spirit, formed within me through simple prayers spoken in uncomplicated phrases during fellowship with God.

Prayer is a collection of proper words through which I pour out my soul before the Creator: expressing gratitude, asking for help and wisdom, interceding for close friends and enemies, and asking God to act. If instead of words of prayer I decide to show God my deeds, I will encounter serious problems in my relationship with Him. But my sincere words of prayer are capable of shaking God’s throne and calling the Creator to action.

We should not underestimate the power of what is spoken. Words of love work miracles in my life and in the lives of those near me.

The language of love called communication is very diverse. It has many branches and offshoots, each possessing its own influence and power. These may be words of love, instruction, or teaching; words of reproof or punishment; words of support or reproach; words of praise and inspiration. Words of love can create new families, reunite broken relationships, awaken affection between people, and build friendships that last a lifetime. Such words may be spoken aloud or expressed in letters. They are sent to give love to people. They accomplish the purpose for which they are spoken.

And if we consider that the human being was originally created in the image and likeness of God, it becomes clear that God’s plan includes restoring this image in sinful humanity and afterward revealing to other people, through human words of love, the true beauty of God’s character.

My language of love is a powerful instrument of God for fulfilling His plans.

1. In the light of this lesson, please read Isaiah 44:26; Matthew 12:37; Matthew 5:37; and Luke 6:45.

2. Do you understand the importance and power of spoken words?

3. What power do your words have in your life?

4. What did you understand from this lesson? What new truth was revealed to you?

5. How can love be expressed in words?

6. Who is an idle talker? How do such people differ from people who keep their word? Read James 3:2–12.

7. Do you understand this language of love?