Proverbs 18:21 AMPC
[21] Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it [for death or life].
Matthew 12:37 AMPC
[37] For by your words you will be justified and acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned and sentenced.
There is power in the tongue. There is also the perfect example of this power, as laid out in the story of creation. God spoke, and all that He commanded came to be. The Bible would say: "And it was so". The power of the Word of God cannot be resisted by anyone, not even the devil, and all of us who are created by God are also made in His image and given His nature too. The Bible also says quite clearly that: "God created man in His own image, in the image and likeness of God He created him". That is the nature we have been given, the power we have access to, and the destiny that has been fashioned out for us. God does not create something which has no use, and for me, this reality is made even clearer when He gives me of His Spirit to live in me, and give me hope of eternal life with Him. That is the huge responsibility that has been brought to life in me, and which I have to live up to. Can you also say the same, that you know quite clearly that you are God's child, and His Spirit lives in you?
This understanding is the reason why I have to be careful and deliberate in how I live. A window into my person and identity is revealed by the words I speak. My words will reveal if I know who I am, whose I an, who I serve and where I am headed. Words are never ordinary, and cannot be used carelessly or without thought of their impact and eternal value. When you consider the first words recorded in the bible, which are: "Let there be light", you know that a standard has been laid for the use of the tongue. Words have to be used to build up, create good and improve what is available. Words cannot be used to tear down, destroy or put down someone. In fact, when Paul was speaking to Timothy, he also enjoined the proper use of the tongue by saying it would be wrong for both blessings and curses to proceed from the same mouth. This would mean that the person using the tongue this way does not know the power that is available, and the earthly and eternal dangers to the wrong use.
Let it not be that I will be responsible for the eternal damnation of someone else, simply because I was careless about what I said. The warnings in the verses above show that there is judgment, as well as justification for the use of the tongue. There are actually no useless words; they all have an impact in the lives of those who hear them. If I indulge in careless words, the verses above warn that I will eat the fruits from them. It means that words are like trees with fruits, and if I want to enjoy the fruits, I had better watch out for the seeds I sow today. For all of us, the fruit of our words will be given to us at some point in time in our lives, and judgment or justification wait at the end of our lives, based on the use of the tongue. Whatever has gone before can be forgiven, if handed over to Jesus to deal with. He wants to birth a new life in us, if we will only surrender to Him. Remember, He does not force Himself on anyone, or go against the exercise of our freewill. Would you surrender, so He can live in and through you? God's time of favour is here.
No comments:
Post a Comment