Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear. — Ephesians 4:29 NASB
As believers, the Holy Spirit continually does the work of spiritual transformation and regeneration in us. This transformation and regeneration lead us to put off the thoughts and deeds of the old self and put on those of the new man.
You may know or have heard of people who while growing up, experienced wrong and negative words spoken to them by their parents, teachers or peers. It could have been some idle tale, a joke, some angry or rude words that has impacted them negatively and has stayed with them for life.
A characteristic of a transformed life is that we learn and choose to speak words that are edifying, appropriate, gracious and encouraging to the hearers.
Rash speaking can sometimes get us and those close to us in trouble. When we don’t carefully weigh our words with wisdom and grace, we may become foolish and reckless just by speaking too quickly. It is better to be silent or to assess the situation and choose our words carefully than to speak whatever first comes to mind. “There is more hope for a fool than for someone who speaks without thinking.” Proverbs 29:20 (NLT)
There was a man in the Bible named Jephthah who was hasty with his words by making a rash vow to God. “And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord. He said, ‘If you give me victory over the Ammonites, I will give to the LORD whatever comes out of my house to meet me when I return in triumph. I will sacrifice it as a burnt offering’ …When Jephthah returned home …, his daughter came out to meet him, playing on a tambourine and dancing for joy. She was his one and only child; he had no other sons or daughters. When he saw her, he tore his clothes in anguish. ‘Oh, my daughter!’ he cried out. ‘You have completely destroyed me! You’ve brought disaster on me! For I have made a vow to the Lord, and I cannot take it back.’” Judges 11:30-31, 34-35 (NLT)
You may have read this story and wondered just like me, what Jephthah was expecting to come out of his house to welcome him. Personally, I don’t believe he expected his daughter to be the first to come out to welcome him! Perhaps, he was expecting his pet dog, cat or other animal to be the first to welcome him!
This poignant story teaches us that we need to be careful when speaking and avoid making rash vows and promises whether to God or people.
The mouth or tongue may be difficult to control, but it does not speak independently of who we are. As Jesus reminds us, “A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.” Luke 6:45 (NLT)
Stay blessed,
LaraLex
Hills and Valleys 