I read today from Matthew 11 & 12. 12:34b-37 speaks of the words one/I say. After speaking about a tree being known by its fruit, Jesus goes on to say the following:
For whatever is in your heart determines what you say. A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. (NLT)
Those words cut. Deeply. I will call it slice and dice. When I spout off angry words; when I spew spiteful words; when I vomit repulsive words, it is evidence of evil in my heart. Not just recent either. It has taken up residence in me. This also goes much deeper than curse words spoken in the heat of the moment or spoken in every day speech (many not even realizing they are using them). Personally I find the use of vulgarity repulsive. I read an interview with someone the other day (and he claims to be a Christ-follower) who used the “s” word multiple times and even used the “f” word (which I find totally disgusting whether by a man or a woman). But lest I sound like a judgmental creep, I have to take into account the times I say unkind words about someone or spread a juicy morsel, founded or unfounded. Like my mother used to say, “Bill, remember. When you point a finger at someone there are always 3 pointing back at you.”
The word for today is to remember your words. To quote the psalmist: “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.” (Ps. 19:14 NLT)
When I was a kid, there used to be a chant that I would hear on the playground that said, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me.” What an outright lie! Psalm 19:14 is one we should all be praying daily for our words most definitely can hurt.
You and I must have been at the same playground Pam! I heard that often and in my naivete’ believed it to be true. Of course it isn’t. I’m much rather someone throw a stick or stone at me than use cutting words.
I took the name for my blog, Meditations of My Heart, from Psalm 19:14. I’m in the same camp as Pam and you as I heard that playground chant, too. May we not only guard our hearts but bar the doors of our tongues, too. Blessings, Bill!
Set the bar and lock it! 🙂 I did not know about the name. Cool!
Its just not the words we say, but the words we feel, and think and let linger in our hearts as well. I’ve often heard it said, if you cannot say anything nice, say nothing at all. God hears all words, all thoughts, and I use to think well at least I didn’t say anything. God convicted me of my thoughts as well. Even if it is not spoken, harboring hurtful, mean thoughts about someone, those weeds in our hearts give the evil one room to work in our hearts.
You are most definitely right Gail. The Bible says not to give the devil a foothold. Harboring those hurtful thoughts about others definitely fits that category.