Welcome!
Today: Speaking that produces fruits
Passage: Eph 4
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. 30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. (Eph 4, NIV )
The word of God is very powerful. On the one side, it is sweeter than honey, but it is also a double-edged sword!
The same word is “power” to those who are being saved, but “shameful” for those who are perishing. (1 Cor 1:18)
Jesus Christ is the precious corner stone of the true Christian’s life, but a “stumbling block” to those who stay away from Him (1 Peter 2: 7, 8)
Words come out of heart. Ones’s words tell us what kind of a person that is. The words of Jesus tell us what kind of a person Jesus is
There are people who speak words that build others. Some only speak discouragement. They curse and speak everything negative
When somebody speaks the wrong way and you want to correct them, the actual correction must happen within, not outside.
In the verses above, we see that our words affect man and God!
Many have grieved the Holy Spirit by their words
Many have grieved their dear and near ones. Some of them were intentional but many were accidental. People may not openly share what they felt, but keep it in their heart. The other day, I was reading about the “pseudo community” where people do not openly speak their hurts out, but keep it in the heart, because they are afraid that speaking the truth might hurt the peace. In fact, in the long run, you get to a point when all these “keeps” burst out and so does the relationship. Love, truth and justice are very much connected!
While it is true that speaking the truth can hurt, there is a limit to how long you keep quiet and build up the “grudge” in you. It will make you sick, physically!
If we are interested in maintaining a good relationship, we need to speak the truth out, gently, in love. May be we need some practice as to how to do it right
Many marriages could have been “saved” if people spoke out!
You first speak what is good about a person, before straightaway telling them what is bad. If we look at the seven letters to the churches in Revelation 2 & 3, that is the model Jesus himself adopted. Apostles also did the same
God bless you in your endeavor!
BG
Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to speak and speak what you want me to. Help me to speak when I should and to keep quiet when I should, so that I will be a blessing to others, building them up. Amen