Words are a powerful tool. Words can bring peace and launch wars.
Words can soothe the soul or stir formidable conflict.
Words once spoken are like a storm unleashed or a soaking rain that can’t be ceased.
The enormous power of words is wielded like a double edged sword by all those born with a tongue. Yet, words in themselves give a glimpse of what exists deep in the heart! There’s no greater reflection of the soul than the words we expel.
Even the world knows their strength…let me show you:
- Handle them carefully, for words have more power than atom bombs. –Pearl Strachan
- Speech is the mirror of the soul; as a man speaks, so he is. –Publilius Syrus
- Be careful of your thoughts; they may become words at any moment. –Ira Gassen
- The trouble with talking too fast is you may say something you haven’t thought of yet. –Ann Landers
- No man means all he says, and yet very few say all they mean, for words are slippery and thought is viscous. –Henry B. Adams
- Half the world is composed of people who have something to say and can’t, and the other half who have nothing to say and keep on saying it. –Robert Frost
- Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. – Plato
- To speak and to speak well are two things. A fool may talk, but a wise man speaks. –Ben Jonson
- Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. -Jesus Christ
God’s Word admonishes the church time and time again with guardrails and danger signs of the power of words. Yet in our craftiness, we conceal our hidden agendas around phrases such as: “I just speak the truth” or “Out of love I must tell you” or “I’m so concerned for”. In our pious holiness we feel it our sovereign just right and responsibility to tell others how to live their lives. Not based on God’s Word necessarily…but instead on our opinion based on what “God has revealed to me”. And in our blindness we say…”you must be like me, think like me, speak like me, share my opinions…then you’ll be my sister…my brother.”
Luke 6:43 – “A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. A tree is identified by the kind of fruit it produces. Figs never grow on thorn bushes or grapes on bramble bushes. A good person produces good deeds from a good heart, and an evil person produces evil deeds from an evil heart. “Whatever is in your heart determines what you say”.
It’s amazing how Jesus never gives us a vehicle of escape or a justifiable excuse. He simply says bad fruit – bad heart, good fruit – good heart. No other possibility, no Oops, no momentary slip, no I shouldn’t have said that. No out! Your words wound…bad heart. Your words gossip – bad heart. Your words tear down – bad heart! Your words encourage – good heart. Your words heal – good heart. Your words build up – good heart. End of discussion…over and out…done!
And then…the best of all. He looks us in the eye – peers deep into our soul and asks: “So why do you call me “Lord” when you won’t obey me?”.
Ouch! No obedience…no lord.
Words! There’s no greater indication of the soul. Words! Indicate health in greater degree than the best C-scan, MRI & X-ray money can buy. Wondering what team your playing for? Check your fruit…your words. Feeling like things might have gone slightly out of sync…maybe the fruits getting a little ripe? Your heart grown a little cold? Then time to remember who you are…we all are: destitute…broken…desperate…sinful…abandoned! Yet in Christ (and only in Him) I am now:
whole…healed…fulfilled….forgiven…found! Now words have a whole new justification – thanks, praise, love, joy, acceptance, gratefulness… Now that’s power that can change the world!
Out of words…and thankful for it…
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