The Bible and the Tongue -- Day 3

Proverbs 12:18Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing.  NLT

If you look at a lot of the humour of today, SO much of it is based on cut-downs and sarcasm.  This kind of humour needs someone to be the target of the joke.  That person can be very hurt.  That is why this verse is talking about “cutting remarks”.

The verse goes on to say that wise words heal…. That they bring healing.  So you can see that there are two sides to this issues: The one doing the cutting and hurting, and the person helping to heal and encourage.

Think of the image of someone in a sword duel.  A sarcastic comment can be like someone being stabbed, and a person with wise words can help to close the wound.

Know what, though?  Sometimes comments made in fun can hurt someone and affect them for years.

THINK!

•   Are you the one the makes the cutting comments? 
•   What is a time when you have been the one with the healing words?
•   Have you been really hurt by a cutting comment?
•   Who do you go to for encouragement when you are hurt?

Words you may not know:

•   Remark: to say casually, as in making a comment.

The Bible and the Tongue -- Day 2

Matthew 15:18But what goes out of the mouth comes from the heart. And that’s what contaminates a person in God’s sight. CEB

In the Bible, the writers tend you use the “heart” as the deepest, most spiritual place in a person.  It is where they attribute your emotions.  It is where they point to when you submit your life towards God to trust in his salvation.  Your heart is who you are… when no one else is looking.  Some people tend to behave in different ways when they think no one is looking.  In the end you will speak from whatever your heart is like.  If you are crude and rude, your speech will match.  If you are kind and compassionate, your speech will match.

This verse says that what comes from a person’s heart is what contaminates us before God.

THINK!

• How do you think your heart gets messed up and contaminated before God?
• What are some things you can do change that?
• What about the words that come out of your mouth at other people?  What does it say about your heart?

Words you may not know:

•   Contaminate: to make impure or unsuitable by contact or mixture with something unclean, bad, etc

 

The Bible and the Tongue -- Day 1

Proverbs 18:21

The tongue can bring death or life; those who love to talk will reap the consequences.   NLT

Here begins a devotional based on what the Bible says about what you say and how you say it.  The Bible has a lot to say about this topic, and you will get to look into a few of the many over the next month.

There is a weapon out there that has destroyed families, caused wars, shattered friendships and ripped down people to the point of feeling worthless…. It is the tongue.

When the Bible describes the way people talk, it often compares it to the tongue.  It comes from the fact that you can’t talk if you don’t have a tongue.  Of course, your mouth shape, your teeth and all that other stuff contributes to speaking.

THINK! 

• When you are spending time with your friends, which ones use what they say to put people down?  Who uses their words to encourage people?
• What do you do?
• Are there any people you have hurt with your words that you need to apologize to?

Words you may not know:

Reap: to get as a return, recompense, or result; what you harvest when you plant something

Consequences: the effect, result, or outcome of something occurring earlier