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Here’s a trivia question for you. In the English language, what word has the most meanings?
According to Guinness World Records, the word that has the most meanings in the English language is “Set.”
“She set the table.”
“I would like a new set of golf clubs.”
“He set the alarm.”
“The sun will set at 7:10 p.m.”
“They set a world’s record.”
“He is so set in his ways!”
“In Hollywood, I visited a movie set.”
“Their wedding is set for next October.”
“The hostages were set
free.”
“They set aside time to be together.”
“The kids set up a lemonade stand.”
And many, many more.
In the Oxford English Dictionary, the word “set” has 464 different definitions! In fact, the word's entry in the Dictionary consists of 60,000 words. To put that in perspective, the four Gospels - the Books of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John - have a combined 63,000 words!
Speaking of the Bible, the New Testament was originally written in Greek. And there’s a powerful word that also has several different meanings.
You’ve heard me say before that the Greek word for “Salvation” is Sozo.
Likewise, the Greek word for “Healing” is Sozo. Furthermore, the Greek word for the verb “to be set free” is Sozo.
The Greek word Sozo is used over 100 times in the New Testament. One example is Matthew 1:21 - “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save (sozo) his people from their sins.”
In Luke 19:10 Jesus declares that “the Son of Man came to seek and to save (sozo) the lost.”
Mark 5:23 says, “He pleaded earnestly with him, ‘My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she will be healed (sozo) and live.’”
Matthew 8:25 tells the story of Jesus calming the storm: “The disciples went and woke him, saying, ‘Lord, save (sozo) us! We’re going to drown!’”
These three different definitions say a lot about our God. First, He sent Jesus into this world to die for our sin and bring about eternal salvation (sozo). Secondly, our salvation is not only for eternity in Heaven. It affects the here and now. Jesus brings about healing (sozo) in a myriad of ways: physical healing, emotional healing, relational healing, mental healing, among others. And finally, Jesus came to set us free (sozo) from those things that hold us in bondage: shame, bitterness, unforgiveness, hatred, racism, worry, anxiety, and many, many more.
So when you say “Yes” to God’s offer of salvation, know that that’s not the end. Rather, it’s a new beginning, for each and every moment, you will either say “Yes” to Jesus or “Yes” to something (or someone) else. Even after salvation, God continues to cleanse us, stretch us, bless us, and challenge us. You are still a work in progress! That’s because God calls us to live lives that are Holy. The word Holy means “to be set apart” (notice the English use of the word “set!”)
No matter what I may have done, God says that I am not a lost cause. I am not too far gone. In addition, I am always a work in progress. May we always remember these Biblical Truths - Jesus didn’t just set
a good example, He has set you free! So set your mind on Godly things.
Friends, I am excited to be your Pastor, and I hope to worship with you on Sunday. Until then, know that you are loved.
Joe
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