16 Oct Ready Writer ?

“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing” said Benjamin Franklin, one of the founding fathers of the United States of America. Writing is one of the most exciting pursuit. Why don’t we try it out? God chose to write down what He wanted to communicate to His own chosen people. Let us read what Moses wrote “He told me that he would write on the new stones the same words he had written on the ones I broke, and that I could put these stones in this sacred chest” Dt. 10:2 (CEV) The ten commandments on the tables were re-hewn by Moses, but it was the Lord who gave the contents as it was originally given in the earlier tables. They are of divine origin and they help us understand that the second tablets are the earlier ones that had been broken (disobeyed) by the people. The author of Proverbs writes about the need for inscribing the Word of God in the minds. ‘Keep them at your fingertips and write them in your mind’. Pr. 7: 3 (CEV)

I will write my laws on their hearts and minds. I will be their God, and they will be my people. Jer. 31: 33 (CEV)

The time will come when I, the Lord, will write my laws on their minds and hearts. Heb.8: 10; (CEV)

The essence of the verses quoted above teaches the importance of listening to and obeying the Scriptures. If writing can bring changes in the human lives, there is nothing compared to that. The written Word of God brings transformation of hearts, bring the person in relationship with God. The purpose of writing is to communicate the essential ones.

Now we are inclined to think, ‘do people read if we write’? Can writing compete with the faster and better ways of ‘e – world’ communication? The modes of communication have been changing from decades to decades. But writing has been still the basic means of all communication, including e-communications. If we want to be efficient in communication any means will do. But if we want to be effective in communication writing is the best option. I suggest that many of us can choose writing as one of our hobbies so that it would bring glory to God by being useful to many.

We forget the messages received through hearing, ignore WhatsApp and ‘SMS’ messages, forget talking over phone. Most alarmingly, sometimes we forget even face to face conversation including late night discussions and other lengthy conversations quickly. But writings remain and keep us reminding. So often we take writings for granted. UESI gives importance to written communication and keeping our records for a longer period of time! History of UESI ministry can be known through the written minutes, reports and written documents maintained through the years. There are cases of unopened covers of Campus Link and Newsletters. Of course, there are some who read it, preserve it and pass on the vision of ministry to others too. I wish everyone who receives UESI InTouch would do these.

It all depends on how we write to make a lasting impact! When you want to communicate better, start writing it. If it is a forum where your opinion is sought, please write your opinion before (reading) voicing it out. In a forum where we want clarification, we can write our questions down and then read it. When we need anything, our requisition shall be preferred in writing. When we prepare for preaching, we can write down our sermon notes word by word clearly so that we would not miss what the Lord has burdened us with.

When you send official communication, it is always better to give them in writing. I have seen CL subscribers orally ask for change of address or give subscription/contribution and ask the person to remember. Let us inculcate the habit of giving them in writing. If we give orally, there are chances for misspelling, duplication, and even missing of address. I can keep writing on. . . but CL would not have room.

When we become writers by hobby, it helps us stand responsible to those who read us. When the Psalmist says, “My heart overflows with a good theme; I address my verses to the King; My tongue is the pen of a ready writer” Ps. 45:1 (NASB), he says he is ready to fluently speak matters of God. Are we ready to write the matters of God? Is it not the responsibility of those who are well versed in the Scriptures to communicate to others for the edification of one another?

Let us write on!

T. Athma Soruban