A Goody From Woody

It was Oxford Dictionary’s staff that chose the word of the year that would reflect the “ethos” and high-tech (read this on Facebook and Twitter) world that is rapidly changing.

“Unfriend” won the battle over other words like “hashtag”, a symbol (#) used on Twitter posts; “birther”, meaning conspiracy theorists challenging President Barack Obama’s U.S. birth certificate; and “intexicated”, people distracted by texting while driving.

“Unfriend” means “to delete someone as a friend on Facebook or other networking sites.”

As I reflected on this word “unfriend”, let me give you several observations:

➢ People are removed easily on a phone or computer – but not by God. Paul, in Romans 11, tells us about Israel rejecting their Messiah, but that allowed the non-Jewish person to have this wonderful salvation and relationship with God (cf. Romans 11:15). Paul says also in Romans 11 when a Jewish person comes to know their Messiah, it will be as if “going from death to life.”

➢ Have you ever thought how it must feel to be rejected? At this wonderful season of Christmas, the gospel of Jesus Christ tells us – NO, you are not rejected (Romans 11:1).

➢ My last observation of “unfriend” is this: why not take the next twenty days and think of an “unfriend” – someone you know who needs a letter, card, visit, friendly cup of coffee, etc. and for their sake and God’s, remind them “You matter to God and to me.”
Proverbs 18:21 ESV, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”

Thank you “FRIEND”!