What are You Saying?
Our words are powerful! They can tear souls down, they can destroy the closest of friendships, they can dishearten, and they can and do cause wars. Our words can build souls up, they can encourage and strengthen friendships, they can be healing, and they can prevent wars. Our words are real, and they have meaning. Think about what you are saying.
Words are the blocks to the foundation of life. We teach our little children not to throw fits to get what they want, but to use their words to communicate. Often, they are using what comes naturally — allowing their emotions to get the best of them or using their emotions in an attempt to communicate. Sometimes we adults let our emotions dictate the words we use. This is not always good. God, through His wisdom, has much to teach about the words we choose to use.
“A soft answer turns away wrath, But a harsh word stirs up anger” (Proverbs 15:1). This is an obvious truth; but often it is so hard for us to implement in our lives. Calm, choice words can heal a broken spirit, give encouragement, and strengthen the trodden down. “The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, But the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness” (Proverbs 15:2).
If we think more about our words and how they will be received, we can prevent a lot of misunderstandings and hurt. As my mother would say, “This is one reason why God gave us two ears and one mouth. Therefore we ought to listen twice as much as we speak.”
Paul said, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6). Our words should be with grace, goodness, favor, and be beneficial to those who are listening. Salt has several uses. Salt can be healing. Often it is used to enhance the flavor of food, and it can be used to melt ice. The word of God has the power to melt hearts of ice, it has the power to heal, and it can enhance the flavor of anyone’s life if we will allow it (Hebrews 4:12; Romans 10:17, 1:16-17; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17). Someone once said, “choose your words carefully, for you might have to eat them.” As God’s people, we must use our words for good!
Texting language is often just acronyms that abbreviate words. Often, when I am receiving texts from those of the world, they take God’s name in vain in their text language or acronyms, or they abbreviate crass words that should not be spoken or written. These acronyms can leak into our lives, and Christians might even use them, not knowing they are taking God’s name in vain. Our words have meaning. What are you saying?
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him (Colossians 3:16-17).
“Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:34-37).
The Pharisees had just unwisely spoken against the Holy Spirit. Jesus showed their words were not those of good men. Jesus says the source of our words comes from our hearts. We need to be careful what we allow into our hearts and minds—for those seeds will germinate and take root, and eventually, the fruit will come out of our mouths. We also need to be careful of idle words—useless, thoughtless words that do not accomplish good and God’s purpose.
Peter made the good confession using his words, pointing us to the One Whose words really matter.
His words should be our focus, His words should be on our lips, His words should be our practice. His words shall stand through time and eternity (Matthew 24:35)! Jesus Christ has the words that will lead us to and give eternal life!
But Simon Peter answered Him, “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. Also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6:68-69).
What are you saying?