March 23, 2024 THE POWER OF OUR WORDS
PROVERBS 18:21, 15:4 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Most of us have spoken words we later regretted speaking. We have also likely been the recipient of hurtful words. The ability to control our tongue is a really big deal. The core issue concerning what words we speak is that the words we speak flow our of our hearts; so the key issue is the condition of our hearts. Even though our hearts may be generally ‘good’ most of the time, on occasion, we may speak a hurtful or damaging word; however, if we are walking according to the Spirit, the Spirit will quickly point out that what we said was wrong-then we confess it and ask forgiveness. It is amazing to understand from Proverbs above that ‘death and life are in the power of the tongue. ‘Let no un wholesome word come out of our mouths’-what a sobering instruction that should compel us to carefully measure our words. (There are times when we have to speak a corrective word that may sound harsh, but when it is done in love and with grace, it is life-giving.) On the positive side, we have the opportunity and the power to build up, to edify, to encourage and to speak graceful words. I saw this statement recently: “Who needs encouragement? Anyone who is breathing.” So true. The good news is that when we are walking in the Spirit, we will find that our words bring life. It does not have to be burdensome or a constant battle to make sure we are speaking life-giving words; as we walk in the Spirit, speaking uplifting words becomes natural. I am sure we all agree with what has been said thus far; but as they say, the ‘proof is in the pudding.’ So, from this moment on, let life-giving words proceed out of our mouths.
Matthew 15:18 “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” (God has given us a new heart; so when we live out of the new heart, our words will be life-giving. The heart is a fountain.) James 3:10-12 “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Blessings, Buddy
PROVERBS 18:21, 15:4 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.” “A gentle tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.”
Ephesians 4:29 “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.”
Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Luke 6:45 “The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.”
Most of us have spoken words we later regretted speaking. We have also likely been the recipient of hurtful words. The ability to control our tongue is a really big deal. The core issue concerning what words we speak is that the words we speak flow our of our hearts; so the key issue is the condition of our hearts. Even though our hearts may be generally ‘good’ most of the time, on occasion, we may speak a hurtful or damaging word; however, if we are walking according to the Spirit, the Spirit will quickly point out that what we said was wrong-then we confess it and ask forgiveness. It is amazing to understand from Proverbs above that ‘death and life are in the power of the tongue. ‘Let no un wholesome word come out of our mouths’-what a sobering instruction that should compel us to carefully measure our words. (There are times when we have to speak a corrective word that may sound harsh, but when it is done in love and with grace, it is life-giving.) On the positive side, we have the opportunity and the power to build up, to edify, to encourage and to speak graceful words. I saw this statement recently: “Who needs encouragement? Anyone who is breathing.” So true. The good news is that when we are walking in the Spirit, we will find that our words bring life. It does not have to be burdensome or a constant battle to make sure we are speaking life-giving words; as we walk in the Spirit, speaking uplifting words becomes natural. I am sure we all agree with what has been said thus far; but as they say, the ‘proof is in the pudding.’ So, from this moment on, let life-giving words proceed out of our mouths.
Matthew 15:18 “But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person.” (God has given us a new heart; so when we live out of the new heart, our words will be life-giving. The heart is a fountain.) James 3:10-12 “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? My brothers, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Proverbs 16:24 “Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Blessings, Buddy
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