August 22, 2014 Words
Friday August 22, 2014
When another person is gathered in the same place that we are do we smile and say “hello” or, do we grunt and wish that there was no one else here but us. When we have a conversation with someone do we share the truth about our lives or, do we try to impress them with our knowledge? What is our motive in talking with others? Are we encouragers to our family and friends, or do we discourage them by our negative response to what they share with us? Listen to what Jesus says about our words in Matthew 12:35-37 (NLV).
“A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. And I tell you this, you must give an account on judgment day for every idle word you speak. The words you say will either acquit you or condemn you.”
Doesn’t that scripture make each of us want to watch the words that come out of our mouths? Whether we like it or not some words we say dishearten others or cause them to lose hope. The dictionary definition of the word, discourage means, ‘to deprive of courage, hope, or confidence; to dishearten’. If we’ve ever had discouraging words said to us, we know how negatively they impacted our spirit and our lives at that time. The scripture above indicates that words that discourage come from “the treasury of an evil heart”.
Sometimes our words can have an impact on others that we never intended them to have. Each of us needs to give some thought as to how we truly want to influence those around us. The Bible gives us instructions on how we should treat each other. It says in 1 Thessalonians 5:14-18 (NIV):
…we urge you, brothers and sisters, warn those who are idle and disruptive, encourage the disheartened, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always strive to do what is good for each other and for everyone else.
Today, why not resolve in your heart to be a blessing to others by the words that you speak to them?
©2014 Partners in Hope
More information on this and other related topics @ www.partnersinhope.ca/resources
Audio for August 22, 2014 Words
Recent Meditations
Giving Hope
Partners in Hope is supported wholly by our friends and community. We are thankful to everyone who partners with us to help bring hope to the discouraged, hurting, and hopeless.