Is your speech rescuing others?

Proverbs 18:21 (NLT) -“The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences”. 

Speech is an amazing thing. With speech, we can share a story; we can teach history; we can share our love with one another; we can preach the Gospel and disciple the nations, and so forth. We can also tear each other down; we can gossip; we can release hatred and racism. Wow, the power of the tongue! It depends on who is speaking. Our speech can bring death or life! When we speak the word of God, we are releasing life, joy, peace, restoration, reconciliation, forgiveness, confidence, blessings and the like. When we choose to complain, criticize, disparage, demean and destroy, we are being led by the flesh, and are using our tongue to bring forth death. Always remember that words are seeds, and we reap according to the seeds that we sow. Therefore, be careful how you use your tongue; you are bringing forth either death or life.

Proverbs 12:6 – The words of the wicked lie in wait for blood, but the speech of the upright rescues them.

 

This practice can bring life or death!

In the book of Proverbs chapter 18:21, the Bible states that there is life and death in the power of the tongue. You possess power in your words and conversation. This power can go both ways at any given time.

Consider:

  • Salvation comes when one speaks to another person about the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It causes a response that leads to life.
  • Faith comes when you hear the Word spoken to you.
  • Joy comes when you hear good news.
  • Sorrow comes when you hear bad news.

Children can teach us powerful truths through their actions. The other day, I heard two funny stories that help bring this truth to life:

 

First story:

After the church service, a little boy told the pastor, “When I grow up, I’m going to give you some money.”

“Well, thank you,” the pastor replied, “but why?”

“Because my daddy says you’re one of the poorest preachers we’ve ever heard.”

 

Second story:

A man’s wife invited some people to dinner. At the table, the wife turned to their six year old daughter and said, “Would you like to say the blessing?”

“I wouldn’t know what to say,” she replied.

“Just say what you hear Mommy say,” the wife said.

Their daughter bowed her head and said, ” Dear Lord, why on earth did I invite all these people to dinner?”

 

I don’t know about you, but if my kids did this to me, I’d be embarrassed. Yet, it’s the parents fault because they modeled that behavior and conversation before their children. Proverb 12:18 states there is health in the words of the wise.

Are you healing, uplifting, encouraging others, leading them to saving faith in Christ? Or, are you destroying, breaking down, and shattering people with your words?

Remember, there is life and death in the power of your words!

 

Applying wisdom to everyday life for extraordinary results,

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Victor Nazario