Articles
Speak with Christly Love
On average, a person speaks around 11,000,000 words a year! The world teaches phrases like, “Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words can never hurt me.”, and “I am rubber, you are glue, whatever you say bounces off of me and sticks to you." Yet, Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.”
In Matthew 5:38-39, Jesus Christ teaches, “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ But I say to you, Do not resist the one who is evil. But if anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to him the other also.” Regarding our speech, children of God should not retaliate discouraging words with hurtful ones, because Christ’s love should be controlling us. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15 reads, “For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died; and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.”
Christ teaches the ministry of reconciliation and He has entrusted each one of His children with its message. 2 Corinthians 5:16-17 says, “From now on, therefore, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we once regarded Christ according to the flesh, we regard him thus no longer. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.” Jesus Christ died to reconcile all mankind before God. Since each person has the capacity to be transformed by God’s teachings, there are endless opportunities when shining His light. In Matthew 9:37-38 Jesus said to His disciples, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.”
Everyone should carefully consider their words before they speak because words can have powerful influence. Matthew 12:37-38 tells us, “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” A child of God labors with the love of Christ in all that she, or he does. Colossians 3:17-18 reads, “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.” Do your words often persuade others toward spiritual death, or encourage them to grow in their relationship with Christ?
