Words are a wonderful gift, aren’t they? Words can soothe, excite, inform, comfort, motivate … and more. Tragically, in our time, words are cheap, multiplied and amplified. Today a trial will start in the United States Senate that is mostly about how words were used by our former President. Some insist he was trying to incite a crowd to violence and insurrection. Others say he was giving a political speech to his supporters. Whatever the outcome of that bit of political theater, without any doubt I believe that ‘free speech’ is in peril in our nation. We must carefully choose our words, avoiding those that ‘trigger’ others. If we have thoughts or ideas that are anathema to those with authority, we know the best choice presently is to keep those ideas to ourselves, lest we lose our job, get banned from social media, or risk an outpouring of shame.
Certainly we ought to use the gift of words wisely. Slanderous words, untruthful words, judgmental words have no place in the Christian’s life. Basic to our Christianity is the concept that we say what we mean and mean what we say. Jesus told us "Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one." (Matthew 5:37, NIV) There should be no reason for anyone to question our sincerity, to wonder if we are using words to deceive, to mislead, or to manipulate. When we are secure in His love, when evil’s darkness is overcome by His pure light, Jesus says that our words will reveal that fact. What we say is, He says, the overflow of what and Who is at the core of our being.
Anxiety will lead to fearful words. Insecurity will lead to critical words. Envy will lead to demeaning words. Peace will produce words of comfort. Hope will produce words that edify. Love, at the center, will produce words that heal and bring life. James, the apostle who practically challenges us to holy lives, speaks directly to our use of words. "With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?" (James 3:9-11, NIV)
Who are you at the center of your being? Does the tone and content of your communication reveal at heart at peace with God, that you are being filled with the Spirit’s life- evidenced in “love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control”? (Galatians 5:22-23, NIV) If our words are foul, hateful, or cruel the remedy is not a better filter at our lips but a transformation of our heart! My prayer – “Lord, change my heart! Fill me with Your grace.” Can you say an Amen?
My friend, know this: God’s Words are secure, true, and worthy of our trust! The enemy of your soul and all that is good uses the same tactic on us of which we read in the story of Eden. His goal is to drive a wedge between us and God Himself. The devil prods around the edge of our mind asking ‘Did God really say?’ ‘Can He be trusted to do good?’ ‘What of those things in your life that are so hard, so painful?’ There are experiences that defy our understanding, in which the ways of God are beyond our comprehension. However, we are secure in His promises.
Paul reminds us that God’s “YES” means that. We need not doubt His love or our salvation. "Jesus Christ, the Son of God, never wavers between yes and no. He is the one whom Timothy, Silas, and I preached to you, and he is the divine Yes—God’s affirmation. For all of God’s promises have been fulfilled in him. That is why we say “Amen” when we give glory to God through Christ. It is God who gives us, along with you, the ability to stand firm for Christ. He has commissioned us, and he has identified us as his own by placing the Holy Spirit in our hearts as the first installment of everything he will give us." (2 Corinthians 1:19-22, NLT)
What kind of heart are your words revealing this day? Let’s go back to His Word, anchor our lives in His Promise, and become people who speak words of life.
Here is a word from the Word. It is a prayer excerpted from the 119th Psalm, a song of the power of the Word of God. Let’s make it our prayer today.
"Remember your promise to me, for it is my only
hope.
Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles.
The proud hold me in utter contempt,
but I do not turn away from your law.
I meditate on your age-old laws; O Lord, they comfort me.
I am furious with the wicked, those who reject your law.
Your principles have been the music of my life
throughout the years of my pilgrimage.
I reflect at night on who you are, O Lord,
and I obey your law because of this.
This is my happy way of life:
obeying your commandments." (Psalm 119:49-56, NLT)
____________
(An old praise song about His faithful word)
Oh Lord our Lord
How majestic is Your name
Your words are true
Your mercy does not change
All Your promises are precious
Reviving our faith
Ev'ry one of them
Will be fulfilled one day oh
All Your promises
Are yes and amen Jesus
Your promises are true
All Your promises
Are yes and amen Lord Jesus
We'll keep running after You
We will run
We'll run and not grow weary
We will rise upon the eagle's wings
In the presence of the Lord
Our spirits will soar
Till we one day gaze upon our King oh
My foot had almost slipped
Oh Lord you know I'd almost lost my way
‘Till I entered the house of the Lord
And heard Your sweet Spirit say oh
All Your promises
Are yes and amen Jesus
Your promises are true
All Your promises
Are yes and amen Lord Jesus
We'll keep running after You
Andrew Smith © 1995 Mercy / Vineyard Publishing (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
Vineyard Songs Canada (Admin. by Vineyard Music USA)
CCLI License # 810055
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