Something God has been teaching me recently is that I really need to watch what I say. I have that terrible habit of talking without thinking. What comes to mind comes out like a terrible flood. I cannot even tell you how many times I wish there was a rewind button for life in general so I could take back the words I said. But unfortunately, as well all know, there is no such button. I was reading through Ephesians the other day and happened upon Eph. 4:29. Paul writes: "Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen" (NIV).
I was convicted by the power that my words have on others. I found a quote from Tullian Tchividjian that goes perfectly with this passage: “Words kill and words give life, they’re either poison or fruit – you choose. Words have not only destructive power but also life-giving power. They have massive potential for good and disastrous potential for evil. Our words can serve either to love or to hate, to encourage or to discourage. They have the power either to build up or tear down… That’s why Paul tells us that the church needs to be a community that use the gift of speech the way God intended, as we put off harmful words and put on helpful words… The church must be marked by a different language than the world exhibits, a peculiar speech. We must choose to speak redemptively. The sweetness and strength of the gospel – the sweetness of grace, the strength of truth – should flavour everything we say.”
So, what will your words be? You can tear down through gossip, mean words, lies, etc or you can build up through encouraging one another.
Perhaps you've heard it already but Hawk Nelson's song "Words" talks about this very subject and is definitely applicable.
I was convicted by the power that my words have on others. I found a quote from Tullian Tchividjian that goes perfectly with this passage: “Words kill and words give life, they’re either poison or fruit – you choose. Words have not only destructive power but also life-giving power. They have massive potential for good and disastrous potential for evil. Our words can serve either to love or to hate, to encourage or to discourage. They have the power either to build up or tear down… That’s why Paul tells us that the church needs to be a community that use the gift of speech the way God intended, as we put off harmful words and put on helpful words… The church must be marked by a different language than the world exhibits, a peculiar speech. We must choose to speak redemptively. The sweetness and strength of the gospel – the sweetness of grace, the strength of truth – should flavour everything we say.”
So, what will your words be? You can tear down through gossip, mean words, lies, etc or you can build up through encouraging one another.
Perhaps you've heard it already but Hawk Nelson's song "Words" talks about this very subject and is definitely applicable.
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