How do we say it?
Exactly. Words. They can cut like a knife, slicing truth from lies, and changing people’s opinions about everything from religion to birth control.
They can also damage reputations, divide families, and wreak havoc on people’s lives.
Words can be a balm that heals wounds and smooths over old hurts, bringing people together and repairing relationships.
Exodus 20:13 gives us an easy one.
“You shall not murder.”
We’d never do that, we say. Take another life? Not us! Yet, if we repeat gossip or make spiteful remarks, we’ve done that very thing.
Genesis 2:7 shows the power in words.
“Then the Lord God formed the man of dust from the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living creature.”
God spoke the worlds into existence, and mankind became a living creature.
1 John 3:17 suggests we speak with our possessions as well as with our words.
“But if anyone has the world’s goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God’s love abide in him?”
Our actions tell the state of our heart.
1 John 4:1 says words can be used to sort right from wrong.
“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world.”
If people don’t speak the truth, they should be cast far from us.
1 John 1:9 tells us our words can change our relationship with Christ.
“If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”
If we speak our desire to follow him, he will grant us our wish.
James 1:27 says the world hears our Christian witness in the actions they see us do.
“Religion that is pure and undefiled before God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world.”
If we ignore the hurting around us, we stand on the rooftops and deny the Christ that gives us life.
Words are how we communicate. Our actions speak stronger than our voices. We must use both to proclaim our Christian witness before the world, if we want to win the world for Christ.
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