use your words for good

This week is full of great things for me personally. My dad’s 80th birthday is tomorrow. Our oldest daughter’s birthday is Wednesday. And Thursday is the National Day of prayer. Each of those is important to me in several ways.

Yesterday I continued sharing a series of messages at The Community from the book of James, and we began chapter 3. It talked about how we use our words and communicating in the best possible ways.

The passage talks about those who bless and curse almost at the same time, and the Scripture says that shouldn’t be. I challenge you, as I have been challenged, to use my words and all communication should be used to build people up and spread kindness. That is why I share the following verses with us today:

1 Peter 3:10 NIV

For, “Whoever would love life and see good days must keep their tongue from evil and their lips from deceitful speech.

Choose life and speak greatness.

Matthew 15:11 NIV

What goes into someone’s mouth does not defile them, but what comes out of their mouth, that is what defiles them.”

Matthew 15:18 NASB

But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man.

Our words come from deep inside of our hearts. That is what shows we are either good or bad, building people up or tearing them a part.

Proverbs 15:4 NIV

The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.

Be soothing and not crushing.

Ephesians 4:29 NIV

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.

Choose your words wisely. Benefit yourself and others by using your communication the best possible way.

Colossians 4:6 NIV

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

I like seasoning. Do you? Our words season situations and people. Let’s make sure we season them with good and not bad, lift them up rather than push them down.

Honor God by using your words and communication in the best ways we possibly can.

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