July 26, 2019 (Friday)
Stand guard over your tongue. Do not allow your speech to hurt others. Be kind.
“Don’t use bad language. Say only what is good and helpful to those you are talking to, and what will give them a blessing” (Ephesians 4:29 TLB).
“Do everything without grumbling and arguing” Philippians 2:14 (HCSB).
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
(Matthew 12:37 NKJV)
Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14 KJV). Is this your daily prayer? If not, you may consider making it so. We live in an era of bad language, cruel speech, and unhealthy communication. We’ve become uncommonly vulgar and careless with our words. So much so that sometimes we sound like people who are known for their wickedness and their casual attitude toward God’s will.
My grandfather had a nickname for just about everything. He called me “Soss” and he called my mother “P-Hick.” Why, I don’t know, but I’m sure he meant no harm and his reasons were his own. But in our own sophisticated way of using modern psychological methods, we label our opponents and therefore demean them and weaken their case as they debate us. Such tactics are beneath the dignity of Christian people.
We are taught in the Bible to lift people up, to encourage them and to help them. That’s what Jesus did when he walked among us, and that’s what he has commissioned us to do. Let us make sure, for our own sake as well as that of others, that our words are “fitly spoken,” so that we will not be ashamed if they are played back to us.
Remember, before you speak, that you are a temple of the Holy Spirit who lives within you “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies” (1 Corinthians 6:19-20). Your body includes your tongue.
If we say words that tell people about the Savior, we won’t have time to work ugly words into our daily conversations.
Open my mouth, and let me bear
gladly the warm truth everywhere;
open my heart and let me prepare
love with thy children thus to share.
Click here to hear the hymn.