Our Words Matter (February 2021)
On Wednesday, January 6, 2021 the Capitol building was attacked. Our lawmakers were rushed to safety. Guns were drawn, people died, and many were arrested. As I watched from the comfort of my home, I could not believe what was happening. I know this takes place in other countries after an election. Some of these very countries I have visited; but this cannot be happening in America.
As time goes by, we know more of the story. While the lawless acts are atrocious, I am reminded once again
that our words matter.
False teachers tell lies about God’s salvation, and people follow their lead. They communicate that they have exhausted the scriptures only to twist the word of God according to their standards, and not God’s. Children are told lies about themselves, while the authoritative figures in their lives pretend to think their words are meaningless.
Sometimes I am careless with my tongue, maybe you are as well. In a moment’s notice we can praise God and in the next second our tongue is highjacked by the father of lies. Our words matter.
May we yield to the power of the Holy Spirit in what comes out of our mouth. What we say matters. People are listening.
In Jesus,
Pastor Rich
James 3:1-12 Dear brothers and sisters, not many of you should become teachers in the church, for we who teach will be judged more strictly. Indeed, we all make many mistakes. For if we could control our tongues, we would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way. We can make a large horse go wherever we want by means of a small bit in its mouth. And a small rudder makes a huge ship turn wherever the pilot chooses to go, even though But, a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And among all the parts of the body, the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself. People can tame, all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right! Does a spring of water bubble out with both fresh water and bitter water? Does a fig tree produce olives, or a grapevine produce figs? No, and you can’t draw fresh water from a salty spring.