Matthew 12:34-37 It's your heart, not the dictionary, that gives
meaning to your words. A good person produces good deeds and words season after
season. An evil person is a blight on the orchard. Let me tell you something:
Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt you. There
will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them seriously. Words can
be your salvation. Words can also be your damnation.
Even Jesus could get pretty frustrated with people who could only
speak badly of His ministry. He had the advantage of being able to see straight
to the hearts of the Pharisees to discern their motives. His message to them
should ring clearly to us. Our words are powerful. God demonstrated the power
of His words by speaking creation in existence. We certainly don’t possess that
kind of power, but our words can do so much to encourage, inspire and teach. At
the same time, our words – or sometimes just our tone – can tear people down
leaving them frustrated and disheartened. There is also pain brought from
our lack of words to people who need our companionship and encouragement.
Sometimes, ignoring someone is just as damaging as being hurtful toward them.
What
Jesus said is so true, the interpretation and impact of our words come straight
from our hearts. When we submit our hearts to the Holy Spirit, love,
encouragement and wisdom come from our mouths. When we allow our hearts to rule
with our emotional, selfish desires, we speak destruction into the lives of
others. Examine your heart before you open your mouth and ask the Spirit to
bridle both with the love of Christ.
Father, Empower Your Spirit within me and purify my heart to speak
life and encouragement into the lives of others. Pull out any root of
bitterness in my heart so I will produce the good fruit You desire. I love You.
Amen
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