Speak to Encourage, Part 2

“Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight,
O LORD, my rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

Both persons felt they had spoken of things that should never have been mentioned. Later at home one of the two picked up the Bible and stumbled over the apostle Paul’s words written to the church in Ephesus concerning purity of speech. At first their remarks had seemed harmless. However, for one the comments brought back memories of a lifestyle once forgotten and forgiven by God.

Paul tells us to refrain from speaking in godless terms because it can lead to sin and broken fellowship with God. We may think that sounds extreme, but it’s not. God calls each of us to live a lifestyle separate from that of the world’s. Jesus initiated this truth in Matthew 5:13: “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt has become tasteless, how can it be made salty again?...”

Salt was a preservative in Christ’s time. Today we are God’s preservers of truth and holiness. He calls us to be like salt to a lost and dying world. But if we lose our saltiness, we also lose our effectiveness for Him. Ask God to show you any part of your speech not pleasing to Him. Tell Him that you want Him to be Lord over all you do and say.

“When there are many words, transgression is unavoidable...” Proverbs 10:19