Word!… It Doesn’t Return Void…
Ephesians 4:29 Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word as is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give grace to those who hear.
Oops!
Let no unwholesome word… I’m just telling them the truth for their own good!
Proceed from your mouth… does it count if you just think them?
But only such a word… my mom used to tell me, “If you don’t have something nice to say to someone, don’t say anything at all.” Is this the same thing as grace?
Good for Edification… “You’re so pretty!”
According to the need of the moment… “BUT I NEED to tell you how I feel!”
Will give grace those who hear… it’s NOT all about ME – ME – ME???
Yipes! I definitely need a Speech Therapist! Oh!Oh! Trouble… if what I see on the news and on social media, there aren’t many who could help and even more who need a TEAM of therapists!
Where do we go to learn how to talk to people?
There is only One expert we can trust to have EVERYONE’S best interests at heart… the Holy Spirit! And He says… start inside.
Ephesians 4:31 Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.
Wow! This is so true it is LIFE-CHANGING! The words coming out of my mouth are probably the same ones I’m hearing in my own head and heart, and the same ones I use in talking to and speaking of myself.
Have you ever listened to the conversations you have with yourself about yourself? Not the “cleaned up version” you use to introduce yourself to others – the down and dirty, straight from the pit of hell, self judgement, secretive (some not so secret when they slip out), wouldn’t use for your worst enemy (unless they deserved them) words.
For a lot of years, I had taped conversations going on in my head that were on a repeating loop. I never questioned where they came from, I assumed the people who instigated them, KNEW what they were talking about, and I never argued with them or their words.
“You’re fat!” “You’re dumb!” “You will fail!” “You’re wrong!” “You’re ugly!” “You’ll never learn!”
Sounds like playground fighting words, right? The weapons of enemies. Some are for sure… “sticks and stones can break my bones but words can never hurt me” variety… but some, especially the words spoken FOR MY OWN GOOD, were from friends – and teachers – and parents – and adults just looking out for me.
First thing the Holy Spirit told me, “Turn off the tape!” Seems rather obvious, huh? But these words, taught to me in the throes of my developing identity, became the only words I could turn to when I had no words of my own. Unfortunately, they somewhat became my identity.
I think the same is true for most of us. The words we hear (especially the ones looped on our mind recorder) are the words, along with their synonyms, are the very same words we use to and about our public audience. Sure, we have learned when and with whom, certain words are acceptable and which are not, but that is just a cosmetic change – not a change on our inside.
My first step was to TURN OFF the tape in my head… but then I needed new words… in fact a whole new language to replace a lifetime of wrong thinking and therefore wrong speaking.
Philippians 4:8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Whatever… CAUTION!!!!!! Not mankind’s whatever!
God’s whatever!
After turning off the recorder… the Holy Spirit said, “Learn from Me! Learn My language!” The language of Love!
Learn who God is… 1 John 4:8… for God is love.
Learn who God says you and I are… Psalm 139:15-16 My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance; and in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them.
Learn who we are when we put our trust in Jesus Christ… Romans 8:15 – 17 For (we) have not received a spirit of slavery leading to fear again, but (we) have received a spirit of adoption as sons… and daughters… by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ,
Learn who we are becoming and where we are going. Our destiny isn’t what we thought (and spoke) and/or were told… Romans 8:28-30 And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
and the BEST news of all… 2 Peter 9 the Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing any to perish but all to come to repentance.
We are ALL called!
Finally…
A message… THE WORD!… That even I can speak.
…no unwholesome word… only such a word as is good… for edification… according to the need of the moment… it will give grace to those who hear.
PERFECT!
Now I just need to change my attitude in order to speak it to THOSE people!
1… Turn off pre-recorded message. 2… Learn the new language of Love.
And now…
3… Prepare to speak. The Holy Spirit changed my mind, now I need to change my heart.
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you. We are not enemies (even if we don’t like each other)! We are called to LOVE… even THEM!
Then and only then will the TRUE WORD be spoken among men/women… then and only then will we speak to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord; (Ephesians 5:19) Then and only then will we be speaking God’s language of love.
There is an awesome song called “Words” by Hawk Nelson. He says, “Words can build you up, words can tear you down, start a fire in your heart or put it out…”
What do I want my words to do? What do you want your words to do?
Word! It/they will do something! It/they never return void.
**All Scripture quoted comes from the “Bible Gateway” app and is the NASB version of the Bible