Reflecting on a song by Toby Mac, Speak Life, click HERE for the video.
Recently, I wrote a blog about the heart and how we must get in sync with God’s heart and follow His guidance and will for our lives.
God’s will is to conform us to the image of His Son, Jesus Christ (Romans 8:29.) This process begins when we are born again and may take time to finish. He changes us from the inside out.
In this blog, I will reflect on what the Holy Bible says about the tongue and the words we speak.
I have often been involved in silly conversations or arguments, and the only outcome is negative. Usually, we tear others apart with what we say. The last time this happened, a voice told me to be quiet and not get involved. So I did and walked away. I was not asked for an opinion, so I did not offer one. I reflected on what the Apostle Paul told Timothy:
“Don’t have anything to do with foolish and stupid arguments, because you know they produce quarrels.”
2 Timothy 2:23
Maybe we should ask some basic questions when we engage others in a conversation. I do not know who quoted this, but it fits the story.
Is what has been said TRUE?
Is what has been said POSITIVE?
Is what has been said building up or tearing someone down?
Apart from the help of the Holy Spirit in our lives, when we speak, we make a mess of things. James wrote about our condition when it comes to the tongue.
“When we put bits into the mouths of horses to make them obey us, we can turn the whole animal. Or take ships as an example. Although they are so large and are driven by strong winds, they are steered by a very small rudder wherever the pilot wants to go. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be.”
James 3:3-9
When we decide to speak on our own, apart from the influence of the Holy Spirit, we speak from the heart, which is desperately wicked; no one knows it (Jeremiah 17:9). Jesus in the book of Matthew was explaining to the Pharisees when they confronted him about the disciples not washing their hands when they eat. Jesus said that what comes into the mouth does not defile you, only what comes out of your mouth.
“The things that come out of a person’s mouth come from the heart, and these defile them.”
Matthew 15:18
So, what can we do to ensure we do not sin when we speak?
We must trust the Holy Spirit to place the written words of God in our hearts so that they will positively come out of the mouth for blessing, not cursing. You may ask yourself, what will Jesus say in this situation? Jesus always relied on His Father to speak to us.
“I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me to say all that I have spoken.”
John 12:49
As children of God, we are commanded to bless, not curse (Romans 12:14). Blessing someone is when you speak well about a person, to edify others, not to tear them down. When I tell my wife how beautiful she is, I bless her. To curse someone is to speak evil of that person; whether true or false, it still curses that person.
God will hold us accountable for our words (Matthew 12:36).
We are also called to pray for those in authority, not to curse them (1 Timothy 2:1-4). It is not becoming of children of God to speak evil to those in authority over us.
Father,
Change my heart daily so that what comes out of my mouth is the truth, it is positive, and it is used to build others up. I invite the Holy Spirit to guard my tongue when the evil one wants me to be engaged in a negative talk that only destroys and brings others down. Teach me to Speak Life so I can bring glory to your name.
In Jesus’ name, I pray,
Amen
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