Words

"For by your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:37).

There have been times recently I wanted to take someone out to the woodshed (verbally), but I thought better of it. It never ceases to amaze me how unfeeling, thoughtless and insensitive people can be. Growing up we were taught, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." For all the political correct speech we hear about in the public arena, the qualities of civil and discerning speech seem to have left our vocabulary.

How is it that we fail to understand the long-term effects of an errant word or phrase? Why is it so hard to tame our tongue and control our speech (James 3:5, 6). While I must ask God for discernment daily in curbing my own impulses and watching my own conversation, I am finished watching good, godly people be slandered, spat upon and disrespected in my presence. Edgar A. Guest was correct when he said, "All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing."

So, if you have a problem with your tongue; if you revel in biting and satirical comments about others, if your self-esteem can only be raised by diminishing another - then I am giving you good warning - BEWARE! I am weary of good people being hurt by your thoughtless and careless conduct and I will call you on it.

Oh, and if I miss it - God is listening and he will call "every idle word into judgment!" (Matthew 12:36).