The Power of Life and Death Proverbs 18:21 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”
We have already read what James says about the tongue and the power there is in that small member but when we read the word “tongue” we know that this is speaking about words. Anytime you read the word tongue just put “words” where you see it because it is essentially the same thing. There is death and life in the tongue or in words. A parent can do great harm to a child and that harm can easily follow them throughout their life. They can either live up to or down to the words that a parent speaks. I have a small prison ministry and almost every man tells me that his parent, either his mom or dad, hurt them deeply by the words that came out of their mouth. Sometimes it is the words that are not spoken that can be just as harmful like never hearing “I love you, you are special,” and “I am so proud of you.” The words that are omitted can be just as deadly as the words that are committed to the ears of a child and of course this applies to grown children and to all people in general.
Words can Condemn or Justify Us
Matthew 12:36-27 “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.”
When my children were young, I reminded them to guard their tongue because once words left their mouth, they can never be retrieved. What goes out cannot come back. Jesus warns us to be careful with what we say to others because they can come back to haunt us…at the Judgment Day. He says that for every careless or idle word we speak, we will be judged or condemned by them. By our own words we “will be justified” or we “will be condemned.” Words can help or they can harm. We should be measuring our words carefully because we will have to give an account for them someday.
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