Proverbs 8:1-10:32
Proverbs 10 reminds us a number of times of the power of words.
11 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life, but violence overwhelms the mouth of the wicked.
13 Wisdom is found on the lips of the discerning, but a rod is for the back of him who lacks judgment.
20 The tongue of the righteous is choice silver, but the heart of the wicked is of little value. 21 The lips of the righteous nourish many, but fools die for lack of judgment.
31 The mouth of the righteous brings forth wisdom, but a perverse tongue will be cut out. 32 The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse.
Ephesians 4 reminds God people of what it means to have been made new. A new life in Christ and the transformation it can bring to words and to our whole life:
22 You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; 23 to be made new in the attitude of your minds; 24 and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
The new you must know the power of words:
25 Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 5:4 4 Nor should there be obscenity, foolish talk or coarse joking, which are out of place, but rather thanksgiving.
We see the saying “Stick and stones may break my bones but words will never hurt me”… is just not true. Words have great power.
As people called to put off the old self and be made new. Let us understand the power of words.
Let us use words to build up, not tear down.
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