Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Proverbs 4:24
We live in a combative world, a world where words are often the weapons of choice, and we have learned to use them with careless disregard.
We have become dispensers of verbal pain and destruction and we don’t even recognize it.
The Lord warned us…
For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. Matthew 12:36-37
And these are the careless words we use! It seems that we have forgotten this, and thoughtlessly continue to speak bitterness and spite, unaware of the harm we cause.
Words have power! They buildup or tear down; they carry life or corruption.
The Word of God warns us…
The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21
Our careless frivolous words undermine the culture of heaven in us and contaminate others. In so doing, we elevate the things of the world that have no value in the Kingdom.
Isaiah is convicted by seeing a manifestation of the Living God:
And I said:“Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts. Isaiah 6:5
We must recognize that the ‘words’ we speak or receive into our heart are an indication of who is living us. The greater the revelation of Christ Jesus, the greater the freedom we will have.
Words spoken into our hearts that are uplifting, life-giving, or honoring, are an essential component needed for our maturing in Christ Jesus.
Words that deprive us of honor, or life, will carry the bitter toxin that defiles, blocks and robs us of our identity and the ability to release life and light to a polluted world.
We are either vessels of life and light, or sources of bitterness.
Our words will be the evidence.