"...so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts." -1 Thess. 2:4b
I recently read these words at the bottom of a friends email and they burned into my brain. I have not been able to stop thinking about this since I read it.
We have all heard the following classic, cliche phrases:
The first being very untrue! Words can hurt WAAAAY more than anything physical. The tongue is a very powerful, very risky thing to use.
Just think about what James says about our tongues:
"So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itslef." -James 3:5-6
Everything we do matters. We are God's representatives - showing the world that Christians are different people with a different lifestyle. There are a lot of people that know nothing about God except what they see in the lives of God's people.
Can we really say that we are different? That we live a different lifestyle?
We need to be different. We need to be an accurate representation of Christ, and one of the biggest ways to do this is to watch what we say. This brings me back to my favorite phrase my dad used to say to me when I was a kid, "If you don't have anything nice to say, well then don't say anything at all!" This is very true. If you seriously think hard about it, how much of the stuff you say brings glory to God? Not enough I bet! It doesn't matter who we are with, we can always be bringing glory to God through the things we say.
I have heard so many stories just about Christians that don't swear. People really notice it. You'd be suprised. Something so minescule, but so powerful.
Let's prove James wrong and use the tongue as a positve, powerful insturment in sharing God's love to the world! To the people that see us at our worst! I can guarantee that it will be a very hard thing to do, but the amazing thing is God wants to help us! He is here beside us every step of the way.
Try this, try and think about everything you are going to say today. And when you do, ask yourself if there is any way you can say it so it brings glory to God. And if it really doesn't, maybe it's not worth saying. Pray about it before you go out. Remember, God wants to help you.
I recently read these words at the bottom of a friends email and they burned into my brain. I have not been able to stop thinking about this since I read it.
We have all heard the following classic, cliche phrases:
"Sticks and stones will break my bones but your words will never hurt me."
"I'm rubber, you're glue; whatever you say bounces off me and sticks to you!"
"If you don't have anything nice to say, well then don't say anything at all!"
The first being very untrue! Words can hurt WAAAAY more than anything physical. The tongue is a very powerful, very risky thing to use.
Just think about what James says about our tongues:
"So also, the tongue is a small thing, but what enormous damage it can do. A tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness that can ruin your whole life. It can turn the entire course of your life into a blazing flame of destruction, for it is set on fire by hell itslef." -James 3:5-6
Everything we do matters. We are God's representatives - showing the world that Christians are different people with a different lifestyle. There are a lot of people that know nothing about God except what they see in the lives of God's people.
Can we really say that we are different? That we live a different lifestyle?
We need to be different. We need to be an accurate representation of Christ, and one of the biggest ways to do this is to watch what we say. This brings me back to my favorite phrase my dad used to say to me when I was a kid, "If you don't have anything nice to say, well then don't say anything at all!" This is very true. If you seriously think hard about it, how much of the stuff you say brings glory to God? Not enough I bet! It doesn't matter who we are with, we can always be bringing glory to God through the things we say.
I have heard so many stories just about Christians that don't swear. People really notice it. You'd be suprised. Something so minescule, but so powerful.
Let's prove James wrong and use the tongue as a positve, powerful insturment in sharing God's love to the world! To the people that see us at our worst! I can guarantee that it will be a very hard thing to do, but the amazing thing is God wants to help us! He is here beside us every step of the way.
Try this, try and think about everything you are going to say today. And when you do, ask yourself if there is any way you can say it so it brings glory to God. And if it really doesn't, maybe it's not worth saying. Pray about it before you go out. Remember, God wants to help you.
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