Jesus said in Matthew 15: 8; Mark 7: 6, “These people honour me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. They worship me in vain, their teachings are merely human rules.” Jesus also said in Matthew 12: 36, I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. God wants us to speak words of truth. Proverbs 10: 20 says, the tongue of the righteous is choice silver. What is the character of words we speak?
Words have power of life and death
David said in Psalm 139: 4, before a word is on my tongue you, Lord, know it completely. Moses told the truth to God when he said in Exodus 4: 10, I am slow of speech and tongue. He did not pick words on his own. God spoke through Moses because he allowed God to choose his words. He will choose our words for us if we allow him. Psalm 39: 1 says, I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin. How do we use the power of the tongue? Proverbs 18: 21 says, the tongue has the power of life and death.
Words from God tell the truth
Psalm 34: 13 says, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies. Are our vows to God and in our relationships truthful? The Holy Spirit is a witness to all we say. In Acts 5: 1-10, Ananias and the wife who vowed to God to be truthful but later told lies about the full proceeds from the sale of their land, hence, both died. Galatians 6: 7 says, do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Are our words truthful before God?
Words from God assure life
Jesus said in John 6: 63, the words I have spoken to you- they are full of the Spirit and life. Jesus meant words are eternal and as such his holy word gives life even after death. Jesus said in Matthew 4: 4, man shall not live by bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God. Words should give reason for others to live rather than in despair. Do our words give the hope of life? Matthew 12: 36 says, everyone will have to give account of the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
Words from God must expose danger
Jesus warned Judas in Matthew 26: 24; Mark 14: 21… woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.” Matthew 27: 5 says… Judas went away and hanged himself. Do we warn people from, or lead them into danger? Be your brother’s keeper for Colossians 3: 16 says, let the message of the Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
Words from God must evince power
Jesus said in Matthew 16: 19, I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. Jesus has given us his power on our tongues to bind or loose. He said in Matthew 18: 18, “Truly I tell you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven. How do we use the power in our tongues? Jesus said in Matthew 12: 37, for by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned. Will the Holy Spirit acquit or condemn us on the final day?
Prayer
Dear Lord Jesus Christ, we confess that by our words, we have destroyed many. Help us to build and heal with our words, and not to destroy. We pray in your blessed holy name, Amen!!
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