Words
Words can do many things, and fall short of many others. Words often reveal the depths of the heart and at other times can be as shallow as a droplet of water on a flat rock.
It is the meaning of the words (the intent) that is the importance of them.
Just before the crucifixion of Christ Jesus, the Apostles witnessed Jesus talking with Elijah and Moses on the Mount of Transfiguration.
They were there to tell Jesus of what was about to transpire. I’m sure they gave great detail of the coming crucifixion and events leading up to it. Without a doubt, this troubled Jesus.
I believe He was not troubled over the pain and agony He would endure, but from the denial and hatred He was going to experience from people.
When Jesus went to the Garden of Gethsemane to pray, the Scripture tells us that He prayed so deeply that blood seeped from His pores, “He sweated blood.” Have you ever thought of why?
I personally believe it was because He had lived a sinless life, resisted the greatest temptations mankind had ever known and stayed sinless during His time here in the flesh.
Jesus lived a Righteous Life and was above reproach where sin is concerned, yet He was about to take upon Himself all the sins of the world and it crushed His heart!
How deeply do you think Jesus meant the words of His prayer to His Father in Heaven?
I write this to give us an understanding of just how deeply our words can mean to us and to others for the sake of goodness and righteousness.
Sadly, people can have very deep intent behind words of hatred and ill intent. People can allow themselves to get so caught up in anger and frustration that they spew vile venom in the form of words.
They profess words of condemnation and calamity, destructive verses with the obvious intent of tearing down and shredding spirits and hearts.
I’m not talking about lost folks; I have no righteous expectations of the lost. I’m talking about people who claim to be Christians! You wouldn’t believe the things I hear of so-called Christians speaking, vile destructive language filled with hate and disgust toward other Christians.
Everyone should ask themselves before they utter a word, “how can I glorify Christ in what I say?” What causes these vile outbursts? EGO. And ego is just another name for pride, and the Scripture says pride goeth before destruction and a haughty spirt before a fall! When we allow ourselves to think we are more than we are, we develop haughty spirits and, if left unchecked, we become prideful.
The fact is, if we are followers of Christ Jesus we are servants! We are to be Humble servants that speak God’s Word boldly in service to our Father in heaven through His Son our Lord Jesus.
There is no room in the presence of the Lord for pride and haughtiness. We are allowed to be angry, but we are told to “sin not!” If we become angry, we must first justify that anger in the Holy Word of God and not in our mind.
The words we use can also have little or no intent even when they should. Many think it is acceptable to flippantly say things and have no intention of following through.
Or speak ugly words that were not meant to be spoken with no thought prior to speaking them. Only the speaker can know the intent of their spoken word. We may say things that we think someone wants to hear instead of the truth spoken in kindness.
Our speech should have meaning but also compassion. I personally have often spoken very plainly and bluntly, although true. I have been a very straightforward talker; I do not sugar coat things or speak in a manner that could be misunderstood.
At times this can be harsh for someone to hear. There is no ill intent behind these direct words, only truth spoken with plain speech.
Sadly, we live in a world that has become overly sensitive and people often get their feelings hurt by directness as if the speaker had a grudge against them. Aristotle said “no man is hated more than he who speaks the truth,” but the Bible says, “the Truth shall set you free!” Either way, we must speak truth and speak it in a way that can be heard and understood.
Our words should show that we are children of the Creator, serving the Lord through teaching and lifting up the Gospel of Jesus Christ. We are to make Disciples of the world, and if we find ourselves in a place where we are having difficulty doing that or we have a lack of knowledge or understanding, we should immediately refer those that we are talking with to someone from whom they can receive the teaching that they need.
Matthew 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost.
1 Peter 1:15-16 15 But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; 16 Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy.
Kenneth Kellar
A Man Called by God to Teach and Disciple.