I really enjoy looking back through my journals to see what God had to say to me at different times in my life.  Looking back gives me a good measure of how (or “if”), I am maturing in my Christian walk.  I came across this journal entry this morning, and sheesh, it was as convicting today as it was the day I penned it.  Check it out.

“But I tell you that for every careless word that people speak, 
they will give an account of it on the day of judgment.” 
~~ Matthew 12:36 ~~

If I am to safeguard myself against the speaking of careless words, I better know what God considers a “careless word”.  

GREEK DEFINITIONS

Careless <argos> unprofitable (producing no gain, good, or result); pernicious (causing great harm or damage often in a way that is not easily seen or noticed; highly injurious or destructive; wicked and deadly)

• REFLECT.  Words not about Jesus, that are spoken to people who don’t know Jesus, are injurious and destructive because their souls hang in the balance.  Just wow… 

Words <rhema> individual utterance; a matter of topic.  

What comes to mind when I think of “a matter of topic” is the verse that says that our words must be “seasoned with salt”.

“Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, 
so that you may know how to answer everyone”.
~~Colossians 4:6~~

• REFLECT.  What is the purpose of the words I speak?  To talk about how I “feel”?  To share what is going on with “me”?  Or to share about Jesus and what He’s doing in my life?  The purpose of my words must be “salty” to make people thirsty for Him.  My words must also be such that they speak God’s perspective on things so as to slow the decay of this awful culture.  So I have to do some self-examination.  What do my words reveal about me?  Just wow, and ouch.  

This verse also says that our words must be “full of grace”.  What does that look like with skin on?  Well, grace <charis> means graciousness (marked by kindness and courtesy; characterized by good taste, generosity of spirit; marked by tact and delicacy); the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude.  

• REFLECT.  Am I kind and courteous to people with whom I come in contact?  (Workmates.  Spouses.  Children.  Employees.  Servers at a restaurant.  Sales associates.  Telemarketers.)  Are the jokes I tell in good taste or are they crass and unseemly?  Is my speech marked by generosity or stinginess?  Is my speech about what others need or all about what I want?  Am I blunt or am I tactful?  What comes to mind with that is that we are to speak the truth in love (Ephesians 4:15-16).

Speak <laleo> to use words in order to declare one’s mind and disclose one’s thoughts.

• Mind.  Thoughts.  I don’t know about you, but with some of the thoughts that come into my mind, I always say I’m thankful that there aren’t “thought bubbles” hovering over my head.   Can you relate?  Well, this is the prime reason that we are told in Romans 12:2 to renew our minds.  

“And do not be conformed to this world, 
but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, 
so that you may prove what the will of God is, 
that which is good and acceptable and perfect.”
~~Romans 12:2~~

”For the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart.” 
~~Luke 6:45~~ 

What we love and how we think (the innermost part of us) are revealed in what we say.  That is sobering…really sobering.  

HOW GOD WORKS!!

At this point, let me just say that I absolutely LOVE how the Spirit of God works!!!  He brought me to this journal entry this morning, readdressing what kind of words need to be spoken to others. 

Well, while I was in the process of rewriting my journal entry in “blog form”, I got a text from my friend, Tracy.  In it she shared today’s devotional from a YouVersion devotional plan that she’s doing with her daughter and daughter-in-law called “Daily Prayers for My Husband”.  The entry for today was no coincidence because it also addressed “words”, but it focused on words that I say to myself.  Check it out!