02/27/2023
Proverbs tells us that words are sweetness to the soul, but for this to be true our words need to be gracious. Bitter or hurtful words have quite the opposite effect, and harm the spirit of both the person who utters them and the one to whom they are directed. We know that hurtful words generate hatred and anxiety, and we know that these two negative feelings not only harm our bodies and mental health, but our spiritual well-being as well. So how do we receive the words of others, and deliver, or respond to them with our own?
“Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.”
Proverbs 16:24 ESV
Our natural inclination is to lash out at someone after they have spoken ill to us. The question is how well we are able to control such outbursts, and make amends once we have lost control of ourselves.
“Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person.”
Colossians 4:6 ESV
So if we recognize that our words can harm others then it should be clear to us that they can also upset our Heavenly Father as well. When we are praying and hear only silence, or are disappointed when what we desire does not come to be after we have asked, do we strike out at the Lord by saying hurtful things to Him? Do we say that He is unfaithful to His word , or worse? Do we place our will before His?
“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”
Psalm 19:14 ESV
When we say hurtful things to one another we will be held accountable for them, not just to each other, but on Judgement Day before God, and not only for what we say purposely, or relative to our faith, but for every word we utter… even those we say carelessly, or without thinking. Our every harmful word demands that we make amends, and ask forgiveness. Hurting one another with our words violates the commandment that we should love our neighbors and our enemies alike, and by our words we can harm them just as if we had struck them a physical blow, or plotted against them. Do we restrain our speech, and ask forgiveness for our poor choice of words?
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.””
Matthew 12:36-37 ESV
The words we speak in haste or in response to our feelings of anger are equal to those spoken with reasoned intent. The courts of men tend to judge crimes of passion less seriously than those that are premeditated, but biblically there is no distinction. Every word we speak is important, and could be harmful. Every foul word we utter needs to be followed by remorse, contrition, and a request for forgiveness of both men, and God. Our unrestrained outbursts demand equal treatment regardless of how we deliver them.
“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”
Proverbs 29:20 ESV
So, how do we speak? How do we receive the words of others, and deliver, or respond, with our own? Are we kind, and hold our bitter tongues? Do we accept the will of God over our own and thank him for it? Today let’s contemplate the power and ramification of our words, and resolve ourselves to speak sweetness to not only one another, but to Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and God. Can we do this? Can we bridle our emotions and our tongues?
Prayer:
Father, thank you for teaching us to control our speech and to resist hurting one another with our bitter and unrighteous words. Thank you Lord for the bit and bridle of faith that you have placed in our mouths, and for leading us away from harmful and sin filled speech. Holy, Holy, Holy, are you our God whose Word is meant to instruct us, to convey goodness and love to us, and not to cut or harm us. Praised be your name for the words your Holy Spirit directs us to speak, because they are meant to bring healing and not hurt, and instill calm and peace rather than anger and conflict into the world. Merciful and kind are you Abba for the sweet words you speak to us as we walk together. Constrained are the thoughts and conversations of Jesus, and so we are taught as well. Your grace guides us in our interactions with you and others with whom we share our thoughts. Help us to always keep our words gentle, humble, and kind, so that we do not disappoint you, nor bring harm to others, or ourselves… not in body, mind, and soul. Transform us in our speech to be as Jesus, so that we will win souls to your kingdom by teaching them through mild and righteous expression, and not by attempting to persuade them with coercive or threatening words. Wash us, especially our tongues, with the blood of Christ so that we will conform perfectly to His image and speak with His voice and words. Make us to be like your Son, and in this way lead us to be pleasing to you. Judge us in this way to be worthy of joining you at your table, and sitting in your presence for all eternity… singing and speaking always with a Holy, joyful, and peace filled voice. May all our words now, and forevermore, be like honey in our mouths, and like a healing salve to those about us. Great are you our God, and may we bring you glory through our words and deeds always. Lead us in this way Lord to bridle our tongues, and to quench the fire of hell that tends to ride upon them… dousing their roaring flames of sin with your living water.
“If we put bits into the mouths of horses so that they obey us, we guide their whole bodies as well. So also the tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”
James 3:3, 5-6 ESV
Rich Forbes