Words can be as deadly as machine gun bullets or as life-giving as a gentle springtime rain. As one who uses words constantly - teaching, preaching, writing, counseling - I should be aware of the power of what I say to build up or tear down, but I forget sometimes. I allow idle speech to trip off of my tongue without thinking how what I am saying will effect others, and sometimes live to regret what I've said. At other times I carefully frame my words knowing that with just a small adjustment in both tone and content, what I say potentially could change the course of another's life! And I am amazed at the results that God brings from words.
Think of some of the powerful uses of the gift of speech in recent history.
Martin Luther King inspired America when he stood before the Lincoln Memorial in 1963 and said, "I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character." His words moved this nation to change laws and lives!
Adolf Hitler was a captivating speaker who used words to ignite the Second World War in Europe, bringing misery, death, and destruction.
Winston Churchill became the Prime Minister of Great Britain in May, 1940 and delivered a famed speech that called that nation to war. He said, "I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat. We have before us an ordeal of the most grievous kind. We have before us many, many months of struggle and suffering." Many credit his ability to rally the Brits as a key part of the Allied victory in that terrible time.
In 1987, Ronald Reagan stood at the Berlin Wall and challenged the Communist governments with his famous line, "Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!" Many believe that his words, timed with world events, started a rumbling that led to the collapse of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War.
Our words may not change a nation, but they may change history in the life of our child, our spouse, or our friend!
James writes of the negative impact of ungodly speech.
"Our tongues are small too, and yet they brag about big things. It takes only a spark to start a forest fire! The tongue is like a spark. It is an evil power that dirties the rest of the body and sets a person’s entire life on fire with flames that come from hell itself. All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and sea creatures can be tamed and have been tamed. But our tongues get out of control. They are restless and evil, and always spreading deadly poison. My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn’t right." (James 3:5-10, CEV)
So, how is the content of our speech changed so that we bless others rather than curse them? Jesus was clear about that! If we want blessed words, we must have a heart full of the Spirit of God! "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45, NKJV) It is a mistake to try to filter the poison at the exit point. Instead, we pray and discipline ourselves to experience the work of transformation of our inner person - learning to love others, to value dignity of persons, to love truth - so that our words flow like a clear mountain stream that refreshes as they wash over others.
Here's a word from the Word. May it inspire you to the best use of words today.
"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. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice." (Ephesians 4:29-31, NIV)
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Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life.
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty,
Teach me faith and duty.
Wonderful words, beautiful words,
Wonderful words of life.
- P.P. Bliss, public domain
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