December 25, 2018 BEWARE OF THE POWER
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
1 Peter 3:10 “For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.’”
Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
James makes a shocking statement in James 3:8 when he says “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Without any doubt, we have all spoken words that we wish we could take back. Countless number of people have been hurt by the words that others have spoken to them; relationships have been broken and the emotions and well-being of those who have had demeaning words spoken to them are wounded. We would likely agree that having control over the tongue is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, challenge we face in life. It is true that our tongue can speak damaging words, words that tear down, words that are lies; but it is also possible for our tongue to speak words of life, and words that build up. James is saying that apart from the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, and apart from walking according to the Spirit, we in fact do not have total dominion over our tongue. A sobering, and a frightening truth is that our words reveal what is in our heart. To walk according to the Spirit, to know and to live out of the new creation we are, is no small issue to say the least. As we live in the realization that we are sons and daughters of God who have been given new hearts, new minds, and new spirits, the words we speak will be wholesome words, words that are helpful and words that help build others up. It is primarily with our words that we reveal our mind and our heart. We live in a world where there is trouble on every hand, where there is strife, discord, challenges, broken relationships, addictions…..and you name it. As believers, we have the wonderful opportunity to speak words that help, that encourage, that build up, that give hope, and words that are life. Realizing the power and the potential of the words we speak should motivate us to make sure that we are walking according to the Spirit so that our tongue is not ‘an unruly member,’ but a tongue that speaks words that edify. It is amazing, but we have the ability and the power to speak words that represent the heart of God! The world does not need more people who condemn and who criticize and tear down with their words. Let us be conscience of the fact that every day we have the opportunity to speak words of life-to bring light to the darkness. May the words of our tongues be instruments that God uses to reveal His love to those who hear our words.
Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Proverbs 15:4 “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.
1 Peter 3:10 “For, ‘Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.’”
Ephesians 4:29 “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
James makes a shocking statement in James 3:8 when he says “but no human being can tame the tongue. It is restless evil, full of deadly poison.” Without any doubt, we have all spoken words that we wish we could take back. Countless number of people have been hurt by the words that others have spoken to them; relationships have been broken and the emotions and well-being of those who have had demeaning words spoken to them are wounded. We would likely agree that having control over the tongue is one of the greatest, if not the greatest, challenge we face in life. It is true that our tongue can speak damaging words, words that tear down, words that are lies; but it is also possible for our tongue to speak words of life, and words that build up. James is saying that apart from the power of the Holy Spirit working in us, and apart from walking according to the Spirit, we in fact do not have total dominion over our tongue. A sobering, and a frightening truth is that our words reveal what is in our heart. To walk according to the Spirit, to know and to live out of the new creation we are, is no small issue to say the least. As we live in the realization that we are sons and daughters of God who have been given new hearts, new minds, and new spirits, the words we speak will be wholesome words, words that are helpful and words that help build others up. It is primarily with our words that we reveal our mind and our heart. We live in a world where there is trouble on every hand, where there is strife, discord, challenges, broken relationships, addictions…..and you name it. As believers, we have the wonderful opportunity to speak words that help, that encourage, that build up, that give hope, and words that are life. Realizing the power and the potential of the words we speak should motivate us to make sure that we are walking according to the Spirit so that our tongue is not ‘an unruly member,’ but a tongue that speaks words that edify. It is amazing, but we have the ability and the power to speak words that represent the heart of God! The world does not need more people who condemn and who criticize and tear down with their words. Let us be conscience of the fact that every day we have the opportunity to speak words of life-to bring light to the darkness. May the words of our tongues be instruments that God uses to reveal His love to those who hear our words.
Colossians 4:6 “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
Proverbs 15:4 “The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
Psalm 141:3 “Set a guard over my mouth, Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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