Read the transcript from today's video devotional.
Have you ever been in an argument with your son, your daughter, maybe your spouse? I remember hearing about a dad one time whose child was using their little bike, and the dad said, "You're never going to use that bike ever again." You and I sometimes say things that we mean in the moment, but we would never really live them out fully. The problem is that those remarks can be very, very cutting. Our Verse of the Day speaks to the importance of our word choice, and you can frankly be in one of two categories—and you want to be in one and you don't want to be in the other.
It comes from Proverbs chapter 12, verse 18. "Some people make cutting remarks, but the words of the wise bring healing."
Two Choices for Our Words
The theme of Proverbs is the fear of the Lord—fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom—and Proverbs really expands on that whole thought all throughout its 31 chapters, pointing ultimately to the ultimate in wisdom: the Lord Jesus Christ. This verse gives us two choices for our words.
First, cutting remarks. It says it right there, "Some people make cutting remarks." This is the idea of speaking rashly, blurting something out without thinking. You've done it, I've done it, I do it, and I feel terrible about it. Cutting remarks really do cut people mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. There's a verse in Ephesians chapter 4, verse 29 which says, "Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouth, but only such as is good for building up other people, so that it may give grace to those who hear." What a great goal—to have only those words which build up people.
Secondly, healing words heal. You've heard the phrase: hurt people hurt people, healed people heal people. The wise people—this is the group you and I want to be in. The verse says the words of the wise bring healing. It's the idea of restoring, of comfort. Proverbs chapter 15, verse 1 says, "A soft answer turns away wrath." Proverbs chapter 16, verse 24 says, "Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body."
Watch Your Words and Worship with Your Words
What do we do with these verses? Two quick thoughts. Number one: watch your words. My mother-in-law—she's now with the Lord—she used to sing this song to my kids when they were younger: "Watch your words, watch your words, think before you speak. Look for something good to say today and all week." Just watch your words. Try to have them be encouraging, healing words.
Secondly: worship with your words. Be a person who uses speech to heal other people. Think about what an amazing thing that is—if we have God's Word in our minds, you and I have the incredible privilege to say words that actually go into the mind of somebody else and can either hurt them or heal them. That is an amazing privilege. Why do we want to do this? Well, one reason is because the Lord Jesus Christ has paid for every single one of the careless words you and I have spoken. Every single one of them will never be held against us if we know the Lord Jesus Christ.
Let's be those who know the Word of God and worship God with our words, and really love other people—so that we can be like the ultimate person who always spoke the most important, most healing words: the Lord Jesus Christ.
