There is life and death in the power of the tongue
This week our three part mini-series will be on the power of your tongue. Sometimes when we go to the doctor, she will ask to see your tongue, and she may get insights into our physical health (rough, smooth, colour, etc.) In the same way what is coming from your tongue may be a good gauge of your spiritual health!
Almost every chapter in the book of Proverbs has something to say about the tongue.
Proverbs 18:21 The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.
This constitutes amazing power in our words with either the power to bless, build up, impart life or with the power to curse, tear down and impart death.
When we choose words of life, we will see its positive effects somewhere down the line, the converse is also true.
What fruit do you want your own words to produce?
Proverbs 15:4 A soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.
With our tongues we can worship God, bless our fellow man or woman, speak the truth in love and yet we can also dishonour the Lord, curse our fellow woman, tell lies, speak deceit and hypocrisy.
Proverbs 6:16 There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: 17 haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, 18 a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, 19 a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
Please note of the six things that the Lord hates, a lying tongue is second top in his list.
Here is the heart of the matter:
Matthew 12:33 “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. 34 You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. 35 A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. 36But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”
What is your heart full of today? Love, joy, or peace or is it full of anger, hurt and bitterness … and what words will bubble up from our hearts today?
Closing Prayer Do you need to admit that you have a problem with this and ask for the Lord’s help? Let us pray.
Amen
For full text for printout and access to the other parts of 'The power of your tongue' click
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