LIVING A POETIC LIFE

Time is a poem
Writ with pen Divine
Every life a stanza
Every breath a line
- Anderson T. Graves II

James 1: [New King James Version] 23 For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror;
24 for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was.
25 But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does

John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.


In poetry circles there is a phenomenon known as “Spoken Word.”

Sometimes described as “full contact poetry,” spoken word brings poets together to publicly perform their work. The atmosphere can range from the profane, hyper-sexual styles of Russels Simmons’s Def Comedy Jam to the ultra-cool aura of coffee-house performances to competitive poetry SLAM events. But the place where spoken word truly finds it voice is in the Church and through Christian performers.

Here’s why.

In the book of James, the Greek word translated as “doer is poietes. Poietes is defined as
1 a maker, a producer, author.
2 a doer, performer.
2a one who obeys or fulfils the law.
3 a poet.

Two Points:
Point 1: For my fellow writers: To be a true poet, to fully realize the gift God has given you, you must be a doer of the Word. It is not enough to be inspiring. It is not enough to be eloquent. It is not enough to be prolific.

1 Corinthians 13:1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. 2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

John 14: 15 “If you love Me, keep My commandments.


Point 2: For everyone, non-writers and writers: Your life is not a random composition. Your life is a poem originally penned by God, a psalm to which you add new verses everyday. Your life is a psalm performed, presented to God by your daily actions. The work that is your life may be profane; it may be lax; it may be competitive; or….

Your life can be powerful, beautiful, holy, and acceptable to God.

Romans 12:1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.


When your life is done, the verses will be spoken aloud.

Revelations 20: 12 And I saw the dead, small and great, standing before God, and books were opened. And another book was opened, which is the Book of Life. And the dead were judged according to their works, by the things which were written in the books.


Will the original Author be pleased with the revisions you’ve made to His work?

Hebrews 12:1 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us,
2 looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.


For more information on Christian spoken word performance, visit the Mars Hill Ministry link.