This morning, I casually flipped open my Bible, paying more attention to the smoothie in my hands than the pages I was turning. But my eyes landed on a chapter in Psalms that led me to some great verses in James. It was actually the commentary at the bottom of the page that led me to James, and funny enough, I just realized I was looking at the wrong commentary for the verses I was reading. I guess the Lord has something to tell me despite my half-hearted attention.
The verses in Psalms 15 (the ones I didn't actually read) are about the power of our words. This sentence is what caught my attention "Perhaps nothing so identifies Christians as their ability to control their speech - speaking the truth, refusing to slander, and keeping promises."
Totally fits in with the message of Holiness that the Lord has been pressing on me.
This challenging sentence led me back to verses I read yesterday in James 3 regarding the tongue. Here's what caught my eye, "Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." (vs. 5b)
I can't help but wonder if my words, spouted off in a careless, fleshy moment, have actually sparked a fire. Done much more damage than I ever intended or imagined. I hope and pray that is not the case, but I can not be so proud as to think that I have been perfect in this area.
This is such an integrity issue - an issue of the heart, really. Words spoken in public, words spoken in private, all reflect the nature and condition of our hearts. And ultimately our words - holy or not - portray to the world who Jesus is. Such a convicting message to my heart this morning.
Do people see/hear/know Jesus by the words I say? Or are they simply distracted/hurt/confused by the sin in my heart?
I want so desperately to finish this post with a message of hope as to tie it all up like a pretty package.
But I can't. Oh, I'm not hopeless; quite the opposite in fact. I just want to spend a little more time feeling uncomfortable as I chew on the Truth today. I am naturally way too quick to get myself out of uncomfortable situations.
I am curious to hear your thoughts. Do you think your words effect the people around you? In a good or bad way? How can we change?
The verses in Psalms 15 (the ones I didn't actually read) are about the power of our words. This sentence is what caught my attention "Perhaps nothing so identifies Christians as their ability to control their speech - speaking the truth, refusing to slander, and keeping promises."
Totally fits in with the message of Holiness that the Lord has been pressing on me.
This challenging sentence led me back to verses I read yesterday in James 3 regarding the tongue. Here's what caught my eye, "Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark." (vs. 5b)
I can't help but wonder if my words, spouted off in a careless, fleshy moment, have actually sparked a fire. Done much more damage than I ever intended or imagined. I hope and pray that is not the case, but I can not be so proud as to think that I have been perfect in this area.
This is such an integrity issue - an issue of the heart, really. Words spoken in public, words spoken in private, all reflect the nature and condition of our hearts. And ultimately our words - holy or not - portray to the world who Jesus is. Such a convicting message to my heart this morning.
Do people see/hear/know Jesus by the words I say? Or are they simply distracted/hurt/confused by the sin in my heart?
I want so desperately to finish this post with a message of hope as to tie it all up like a pretty package.
But I can't. Oh, I'm not hopeless; quite the opposite in fact. I just want to spend a little more time feeling uncomfortable as I chew on the Truth today. I am naturally way too quick to get myself out of uncomfortable situations.
I am curious to hear your thoughts. Do you think your words effect the people around you? In a good or bad way? How can we change?
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