How GOD controls our words…

We become gentle when our words are under GOD's control.

All of us know the power in words.  They can be destructive or they can build up. 

James says in 3:6,8 (LB), "The tongue is a flame of fire. It is full of wickedness and poisons every part of the body.  The tongue is set on fire by hell itself and can turn our whole lives into a blazing flame of destruction and disaster.  But no human being can tame the tongue.  It is always ready to pour out its deadly poison."  

No human being can tame the tongue.  That's why we have to bring our words under GOD's control.  Do you know how GOD controls your words?  He first tames your hearts.  Our hearts have to first be changed by GOD in order for our words to be changed, in order for our actions to be changed.

Jesus said in Luke 6:45 (LB), "Whatever is in the heart overflows into the speech". 

Ephesians 4:29 (Msg), Paul admonishes us, "Watch the way you talk.  Let nothing foul or dirty come out of your mouth.  Say only what helps, each word’s a gift." 

Is each word that I say a gift?  I don't think so.  Is each word that we say helpful to other people? 

The Bible is saying that we need to be careful about that.  One of the characteristics of gentle people is that their words are under control.  They know the power of a carelessly spoken word.

Something that works a lot of times:  Before you say something, think first.  Especially when you're angry or really frustrated say what you are going to say out loud in your head first.  When I do that, I don't usually say what I was going to say.  It wasn't going to be very helpful.  Each word is to be a gift.

Just a thought from the front porch…