“You’ll never be able to do it.”
The words create a moment. They resonate, hanging in the air. Voices continue to clamor as the witty banter moves on. Just another phrase thrown into the wind, its impact unnoticed. But, the receiver, oh, the receiver, tastes the bitterness those words leave. They recoil, stung by the harsh impact that was just experienced.
Moments pass on. To the watching bystander, everything is as it was. Laughter still floats. No one has noticed a change. No one, except for the one who is now hyper aware of every single detail. Fighting the weight that seems to push from all sides constricting even the breaths they breathe, they sink. They sink into a world that is no longer vibrant, no longer colorful, no longer joyful. What they see and experience is no longer what those around them see and experience. It is dark, devoid of life. It is a world of chains. A world of sorrow.
Those that uttered the words that sent them to this dark world never even notice.
“The tongue has the power of life and death…” (Proverbs 18:21)
Our words bring life…or bring death.
There is no neutral ground. We are either bringing the Kingdom and fertilizing the ground around us that others might flourish or we wreaking destruction by poisoning that ground.
We bring life or we bring death.
Every single word we speak; however seemingly innocuous, is laced. When strung together in sentences, in conversations, in written form, they bring life or bring death.
As Christ-followers, we possess one option. We must bring life.
Jesus states, “…I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” (John 10:10).
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God….In Him was life, and that life was the light of men.” (John 1:1&4)
We MUST bring LIFE. We are commanded to walk in the light, as Jesus is (1 John 1:5-7). Darkness and death are not an option for those who are the sons & daughters of the Most High God.
And so, dear brothers & sisters, I urge you: Speak life. Abhor death. Your voice has power, so declare the praises of the Living God with every word you utter.
“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.” (Ephesians 4:29)
