The Power of Our Words

Verse of the Day: 1 Samuel 24:7, So David restrained his servants with these words, and did not allow them to rise against Saul. And Saul got up from the cave and went on his way.

It was one thing for David to show restraint in killing Saul, but it was another to convince a group of men to show restraint who were probably just as tired from running and hiding as David was. The words he spoke, God used to restrain the men who followed David. Many of us probably give very little thought to how the words we speak affect others and affect daily situations and circumstances. James 3:6 warns us, “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” The words we speak will either encourage peace or they will set a situation on fire. Our words can bring peace in the midst of conflict or can instigate war. I have often seen well-meaning Christians rebuke someone who has sinned, but used a tone of anger rather than a tone of sorrow and compassion. The result has not been healing and restoration, but discouragement and bitterness, driving others away from the Lord rather than bringing them to a place of repentance. This is the reason for God’s warning in James 1:19-20, “So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” As born again followers of Jesus, we must be extremely careful about how we use our words. In 1 Peter 3:10 we are told, “For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.’” Colossians 4:5-6 also tells us, “Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. 6 Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.” Note a very important point in verse 5, “toward those who are outside”. Far too often, as Christians, we put on a show for fellow brothers and sisters in Christ when we gather together at the local church or some Christian event. We are on our best behavior and we are careful about what we say. However, once we get out into the world we become careless with our words. We cuss and tell inappropriate jokes or make inappropriate remarks, then want to tell people about Jesus or rebuke people with our self-righteous attitudes when they do something that offends us. God, once again, reminds us in James 3:8-10, “But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” Our aim, as ambassadors of Jesus Christ, is to glorify Him in our lives. One way that we do this is by the power of the words we use. What we speak can be used by the Lord to bless and comfort others, or our words can bring a blemish to Christianity and the Name of Jesus. David could have used his words to encourage someone else within his group of men to kill Saul and then tell himself that it was justified since he was not the one who did it. Instead, he used his words to encourage them not to sin against God by harming the man God put on the throne for the time being. As men and women of God, our words should be words that encourage others. The best way I can express what I am trying to communicate here is to let God’s Word do it. I will leave you with the words of Ephesians 4:29-31, “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. 31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”

Today, God extends an invitation to you to accept His free gift of salvation (Rom 6:23). Will you accept it? Anyone who calls on Jesus, by faith, in repentance, confessing your sins, will receive eternal life. Do not put off calling on Him, and receive Him and His free gift of salvation today (Rom 10:13).