Ephesians 4:29 Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.
When we consider the word “powerful”, many things can flood our minds as examples of this amazing word. We can think of a giant crocodile using its “powerful” jaws to rip apart an unsuspecting zebra crossing the Nile River.
We can think about a nuclear bomb that can yield between 10-50 megatons (Tsar Bomb test). Two of the more famous bombs were the ones dropped on Hiroshima and Nagasaki, which claimed up to 226,000 lives!
According to the Bible, we find that one of the more fitting examples of the word “powerful” is none other than our tongues. Let’s see what the Bible says about our tongue:
James 3:5-8 Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defiled the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed and hath been tamed of mankind: But the tongue can no man tame: it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
Our words are powerful! Imagine this thought, without the power of the tongue (our words), how would Hitler lead his followers to kill an estimated 6 million Jewish people during the Holocaust. Hitler was a masterful propagandist in order to persuade the Germans that his policies were necessary and just.
He used his words carefully to persuade his followers that something as cruel as murder and the near extermination of a race was justified. It was Hitler that said “make the lie big, make it simple, keep saying it, and eventually, they will believe it.”
How are we using our words? Do we realize the weight behind each and everything we say?
There was a popular saying I’m sure we all heard time and time again in our childhood, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Unfortunately, there is nothing farther from the truth – at least according to the Bible.
Our words are very powerful! Softly spoken words sung as a lullaby will put young children to sleep. Exciting words can stir a mob to wreak havoc in a town. Eloquent words potentially can send military forces straight into the face of death. Encouraging words can motivate even the most discouraged of persons. Our words are very important!
What have been the effects of your words? Have you encouraged a dear brother or sister in the faith to go on for Jesus? Have you motivated a spouse at home with praise and recognition?
Or perhaps we have used our words to discourage our children from ever having confidence ever again? Or maybe we have belittled a spouse into thinking that they just can’t get anything right.
Proverbs 23:7 For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he…
It just may be that a repetitive onslaught of negative words may convince those around us that they are a nobody. This sadly goes against the fact that we are indeed “fearfully and wonderfully made.”
Guard our words…watch our tongue. Do it for our loved ones. Do it for the ones we serve, and if we choose not to, remember…WE REAP WHAT WE SOW.
MEMORY VERSE OF THE DAY
Proverbs 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.
