I am seeing clearly again how much our words are not innocuous. I know they say that “sticks and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me” but I have not found this to be true. Words wound and cause emotional scarring. Depending on the source of those words, it can be a lifetime of hurt. Today, I don’t necessarily want to go into how words affect us. Much more importantly, what do our words actually reveal about our lives? They reveal who we serve.
Our Words Are Not Random
There is no such thing as random words that just happen to find their way out of my mouth. I don’t get an “oops” pass for my words. My mouth reveals the source of my thinking and knowledge. So who is feeding me the thoughts behind my words?
But the things that come out of a man’s mouth come from his heart and mind, and it is they that really make a man unclean. For it is from a man’s mind that evil thoughts arise—murder, adultery, lust, theft, perjury and blasphemy. These are the things which make a man unclean, not eating without washing his hands properly!”
Matthew 15:17-20 Phillips
Our Words Prove Source
Our words reveal to the whole wide world who our god is. My every utterance exposes the one to whom my knee bows, because my tongue points to the God I serve. If the fruit of my words is evil, I am serving Satan and if the fruit of my words is good, God is behind them.
“You serpent’s brood, how can you say anything good out of your evil hearts? For a man’s words depend on what fills his heart. A good man gives out good—from the goodness stored in his heart; a bad man gives out evil—from his store of evil. I tell you that men will have to answer at the day of judgment for every careless word they utter—for it is your words that will acquit you, and your words that will condemn you.”
Matthew 12:34-37 Phillips
An observation, John, is that words can make all the difference between peace or war, happiness or sorrow, success or failure and, as John 6:68 shows us, even life or death: “Then Simon Peter answered him, Lord, to whom shall we go? Thou hast the words of eternal life.” John, I’m trying to understand the balance of what you are presenting in this post, that I believe and receive, and how to live a life without being offended. I don’t mean to throw a wrench in this because as Andrea said, it IS powerful. Maybe I’ll have to wait until… Read more »
Hey Pauline, let’s see what you feel after Monday… hope it helps.
God is reminding me to yield my body, mind, and heart to Him everyday. On Monday He told me to yield my mouth too. This is confirmation to me that I was hearing correctly. Thank you for sharing what the Spirit has given you!
“They reveal who we serve” so true! May He continue to reduce me to serve Him and not me any longer (that’s an ouch prayer)!
That is awesome Rachel! Monday I will show this in an actual experience. It shocked me, and made me rich. All this came from the Spirit’s revelation from that circumstance. I hope it speaks to you as well.
“Our words reveal to the whole wide world who our god is. My every utterance exposes the one to whom my knee bows, because my tongue points to the God I serve”. …… so powerful ………thank you.
I can’t wait for you to read Monday’s post… Bless you Andrea!