Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh." James 3:10-12 NKJV
The Word of God tells us, 'Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearer." Eph. 4:29
What type of communication is proceeding out of your mouth, man or woman of God? If a stranger were to have heard all of your conversations on yesterday, would they say, "Now there is a man (or woman) of God."? Or would they have heard you gossiping about someone; slandering someone; judging someone; cursing someone; yelling at someone?...Would they have heard you singing lyrics to a filthy, worldly song; repeating a dirty joke; using the Lord's name in vain?...Would they have heard you laughing at someone because of how they were dressed or because of how they spoke? Were you criticizing someone's performance, and tearing down your brothers and sisters? Did you talk about the unsaved, those who are in darkness and those who have been deceived?
Would someone have called you a man or woman of God?
Did they hear you speak kind words to someone who had hurt you? Did they hear you encourage someone who had made a mistake; encourage someone who is hurting and down? Did they hear you telling someone you loved them; witnessing to the lost; praying for the sick? Did they hear you praising God and speaking His Word? Did they hear you saying, 'I'm sorry,' when you hurt someone. What did they hear some out of your mouth?
As 'followers of God,' (Ehp. 5:1), we are to let our light shine that others may see the love of God in us. We are to "...put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth." Col. 3:8
"For 'He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit." I Peter 3:10
Today, do not be too quick to speak...decide to only speak words that are given to you by the Holy Spirit.
HOW QUIET IT WILL BE TODAY!
So today "Wherefore, my beloved brehtren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath:" James 1:19
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Excellent subject and writing. I heard it said one time at a man's funeral "he never spoke bad about anyone." Those words meant more to me than if they had been glowing words about his accomplishments. Thank you. Thomas
