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In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise. Proverbs 10:19 (NKJV)
Q: What if you only were given a certain quantity of words with which to speak in a day?
Imagine this concept; you are given a specific number of words to speak throughout the day, and then after this, you couldn't speak anymore. How would you use them? Would you choose to use them carefully, or would you just rattle on about whatever came to your mind.
...a fool's voice is known by his many words. Ecclesiastes 5:3 (NKJV)
Now, imagine this concept; every word you speak is being recorded and one day everyone will hear what you said. How would this affect your choice of words used? The fact is this is no concept - it is truth. We see Jesus speaking of it as recorded in the Book of Matthew.
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)
Imagine our words bouncing around and about - thought to be gone but they are still there at a different frequency and volume. This makes me so happy to know Jesus' blood has covered all of my transgressions, including the words that should never have left my mouth. But this in no way gives us Christians a blank check. We should never say improper things to anyone, with the forethought we are going to be forgiven by God - this isn't Christ-like.
Even though we are forgiven, we will sit in judgment before God. We will be judged on what we have been given and what we did with it. This includes the knowledge given to us within the Bible. If we know we shouldn't be speaking in slander, gossip, anger, profanity, lasciviously, with deception, or any other improper way, then we need to know when we do this we are causing others to stumble. These people may be believers, and they may be unsaved, but we have been given an opportunity to share Christ, and to live Christ before them. Our destructive words may very well be hindering their walk, or even their willingness to know Christ.
I don't know about you, but I don't look forward to any highlight film being rolled of those times where I have foolishly spoken and caused pain, suffering, or damaged another person's walk or willingness to even want to know about Jesus. I cannot change what I have done, but I can walk in newness of life. I can take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and cast down any garbage thoughts that may be contrary to what God's Word tells me to think or say. This mind we possess is after all, one of the weapons God has given us to reason with.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)
When we choose to read our Bibles and think upon the things contained within it - applying them to our lives - we will be transformed (Rom. 12:1-2)
Q: So, according to God's Word how should we conduct our speech?
A: Ultimately, we are to do everything, whether it is in word or deed, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (See Col. 3:17). So in other words, speak as if you are speaking to God.
We can see specifically what this means when it comes to our speech by looking at Colossians 4:6.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6 (NKJV)
Hey Christian, when it comes down to it, we will be one of three types of people.
Q: What if you only were given a certain quantity of words with which to speak in a day?
Imagine this concept; you are given a specific number of words to speak throughout the day, and then after this, you couldn't speak anymore. How would you use them? Would you choose to use them carefully, or would you just rattle on about whatever came to your mind.
...a fool's voice is known by his many words. Ecclesiastes 5:3 (NKJV)
Now, imagine this concept; every word you speak is being recorded and one day everyone will hear what you said. How would this affect your choice of words used? The fact is this is no concept - it is truth. We see Jesus speaking of it as recorded in the Book of Matthew.
But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. Matthew 12:36 (NKJV)
Imagine our words bouncing around and about - thought to be gone but they are still there at a different frequency and volume. This makes me so happy to know Jesus' blood has covered all of my transgressions, including the words that should never have left my mouth. But this in no way gives us Christians a blank check. We should never say improper things to anyone, with the forethought we are going to be forgiven by God - this isn't Christ-like.
Even though we are forgiven, we will sit in judgment before God. We will be judged on what we have been given and what we did with it. This includes the knowledge given to us within the Bible. If we know we shouldn't be speaking in slander, gossip, anger, profanity, lasciviously, with deception, or any other improper way, then we need to know when we do this we are causing others to stumble. These people may be believers, and they may be unsaved, but we have been given an opportunity to share Christ, and to live Christ before them. Our destructive words may very well be hindering their walk, or even their willingness to know Christ.
I don't know about you, but I don't look forward to any highlight film being rolled of those times where I have foolishly spoken and caused pain, suffering, or damaged another person's walk or willingness to even want to know about Jesus. I cannot change what I have done, but I can walk in newness of life. I can take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and cast down any garbage thoughts that may be contrary to what God's Word tells me to think or say. This mind we possess is after all, one of the weapons God has given us to reason with.
For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ. 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 (NKJV)
When we choose to read our Bibles and think upon the things contained within it - applying them to our lives - we will be transformed (Rom. 12:1-2)
Q: So, according to God's Word how should we conduct our speech?
A: Ultimately, we are to do everything, whether it is in word or deed, in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (See Col. 3:17). So in other words, speak as if you are speaking to God.
We can see specifically what this means when it comes to our speech by looking at Colossians 4:6.
Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one. Colossians 4:6 (NKJV)
Hey Christian, when it comes down to it, we will be one of three types of people.
- We will be a person who chooses to think before we speak
- We will be a person who thinks while we are speaking
- We will be a person who doesn't think until after they have spoken.
Let's choose to think upon this before we say another word. Let's choose to speak words of encouragement, hope, and life when we are tempted to speak the opposite. God will give you the power, and the proper wisdom if you ask Him (See James 1:5).
STUDY QUESTION: According to the Scriptures contained within this devotional, what could we derive about our speech and the words we choose to use?
PERSONAL INVENTORY: Are you willing to speak to others as if you are speaking to God?
APPLICATION: Seek to capture your thoughts and screen them. Get rid of any thought tempting you to think upon, or to do something in contrast to what God's Word teaches.
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