I wanted to share a great devotion by “Our Daily Bread” I read [text is below] on wholesome words.
Words are a big deal. The Bibles says they have the power of life or death. Wow, that is kind of scary to me. It makes me realize what a responsibility we have when we speak. Which also, makes me sad when I use them carelessly or hear others do the same.
While the article below focuses on crude and lewd words, we need to also be wary of what topics, stories, jokes, sayings, metaphors and even news we share as this is what fills our minds and in turn other’s minds when we speak. Thoughts are where what we say begins and so we need to have our focus on Jesus and godly things above like it says in Col 3:2 before we open our mouths.
Just because you read it, heard it or even worse saw it does not mean you need to share it. What we say and share can give credit, acceptability, and even honor to things so we need to think before we speak. Does what we say fit the Philippians 4:8 model. Is it true, lovely, pure, excellent, praiseworthy, etc? Not just one of these but all of these. As my mother-in-law says “just because you have diareha does not mean I need to hear about your mess.” It is so tempting for us to think and talk about messy stuff but is that really edifying? You can see how what people say and in turn, think has effected our society as what we watch on TV turns up in the news. Things that once appalled and offended us now don’t seem to even cause us to blink an eye now.
Holy words, holy things, good words, good things, wholesome words, wholesome things. This is where we need to walk regardless of our circumstances as it will change our circumstances as others are drawn away from the pull of the world by the sweet fragrance of Jesus.
Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. —Ephesians 4:29
A while back, an Emmy award-winning actress took a courageous stand and walked out in the middle of the Annual American Music Awards ceremony. Her reason? She grew increasingly upset and disappointed by what she described as “an onslaught of lewd jokes and off-color remarks” and raw and raunchy comments by presenters, performers, and hosts. She said the evening was an affront to anyone with a shred of dignity and self-respect.
Unwholesome speech was a problem even in the apostle Paul’s day. He reminded the Christians at Ephesus that they should put away vulgarity, lewdness, slander, and obscene talk from their lives (Eph. 5:4; Col. 3:8). These were expressions of their old lives (1 Cor. 6:9-11), and it was now out of place with their new identity in Christ. Instead, their lives were to be characterized by wholesome speech. Their good or wholesome words would give grace to the hearers (Eph. 4:29). The Holy Spirit would help guard their speech, convict of any filthy talk, and help them to use words to benefit others (John 16:7-13).
We are called to reflect God with all we are, and that includes our words. May our mouths be filled with thanksgiving and words that benefit others.
Holy Spirit, we need Your help. Guard our hearts and minds today. Help us control our thoughts and words so that we might lift others up and show them who You are and what You’ve done in us. Amen.
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