Bible Ballistics: BBs #758     Keeping Them Sweet???

 

“A word fitly spoken

is like apples of gold

in pictures of silver.

12 As an earring of gold,

and an ornament of fine gold,

so is a wise reprover

upon an obedient ear.

13 As the cold of snow

in the time of harvest,

so is a faithful messenger

to them that send him:

for he refresheth

the soul of his masters.”   Proverbs 25:11

Being raised in a family full of “smart alecks” The Lord has worked on me for years to order my “words” according to HIS WORD, not my ‘cutting whit’ which often did just that “cut” others in the name of “humor”!  Well, friends, God has, no IS working on my “words” to be more beneficial to others, for our “words” reveal what is in our heart, and I desire to be one who “refresheth the soul of his masters”!  Jesus said it, I didn’t—I just quote it often, mostly to myself, and pray that the purity of my heart will show to others the Jesus I love, not the meanness of the world we live in.

“O generation of vipers,

how can ye,

being evil,

speak good things?

for out of the abundance of the heart

the mouth speaketh.

35 A good man

out of the good treasure

of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man

out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth

evil things.

36 But I say unto you,

That every idle word

that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof

in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words

thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words

thou shalt be condemned.”   Matthew 12:34-3

Ouch!  Yet, Jesus mentioned it again, implicating the import of our words, as well as our accountability.

“Do not ye yet understand,

that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth

goeth into the belly,

and is cast out into the draught?

18 But those things which proceed

out of the mouth

come forth from the heart;

and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things

which defile a man:

but to eat with unwashen hands

defileth not a man.”  Matthew 15:17-20

As an old proverb says, “Watch your words and keep them sweet!  You never know which ones you’ll eat!” (Source unknown) Yet Jesus is talking about our heart—a heart transformed by the power of redemption is enabled by the Holy Spirit to put out “good” words instead of harmful ones!  What are you and I putting out of our mouths?  Are we speaking ‘godly’ words or ‘worldly’ words?  There is a profound difference; not just what we say, but that it is said with love, discernment, and kindness, and to the glory of God (not me getting the “last word”, and I don’t think I’m the only one with that problem!  Am I?)!

Let’s bring this to a close with a word which Paul shared with the young Pastor Timothy; may we learn from it and keep our words sweet—not compromising truth in any way, but words seasoned with love and grace (and just FYI “unfeigned” simply means imitation or pretend).

“Now the end of the commandment

is charity

out of a pure heart,

and of a good conscience,

and of faith unfeigned:”  1 Timothy 1:5

And his message to the Colossian believers, which we ought to heed today, out of our love for and devotion to our Lord, so that others will see Jesus in us and our ‘words’!

“Walk in wisdom

toward them that are without,

redeeming the time.

6 Let your speech be alway with grace,

seasoned with salt,

that ye may know how ye ought to answer

every man.”  Colossians 4:5-6.

Amen and Amen!