Words

Words

James 3:7-10(NKJV)

⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.

In the New Testament book of James in the Bible, James talks about our mouths and words.  He tells us all kinds of animals in this world are being tamed and we humans can't even tame our tongues.  Our tongues are "unruly evil". He said we use our mouths/words to both bless and curse and it should be that way.

I think that can mean many things.  It means one minute were praising Jesus or talking about God and the next minute we are cussing, lying, being rude, crude, or something along those lines.  There is something wrong with that picture.  We live in a world today where people don't just talk like that, but they also post it online for the world to see.  People let their children talk like this or even talk like this in front of their children or others.

We also live in a world where people not only use bad or foul langue, but they also use their word to lie, deceive, and be dishonest.  People use their words to hurt, damage, slander, and be cruel to others.  People use their words to gossip, stir up dissension, or trouble for others. People use their words to gripe, complain, and be negative for selfish reasons.  Many of us slip up or mess up, but I'm talking about a lifestyle here.

The issue is a heart issue.  People who either haven't truly surrendered their lives to God or people who don't understand that if you want to be a follower of God you have to honor God in all areas of your life including your speech, your words, your honest, and how you treat and talk to people.

The bible puts it this way in the gospel  of Luke:

Luke 6:45(NKJV)⁴⁵ A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

If our heart isn't in the right place, then what comes out of our mouths is going to show that.  So, if our heart is in line with God then our words/mouth is going to show proof(bear fruit) of that, but if our heart is not lined up with God, then our words/mouth are going to show proof of that too.  What will come out is a variety of bad things, whether is cursing, foul language, lying, mean words, etc...

We have to get our heart in the right place and allow God to work in our lives so we develop His character and integrity in our lives.  Our words really do represent us and how people see us, respect us, and take us.  How do you want to be seen? How do you want to present God? your spouse? your children? your parents? yourself?   Use your words and voice to be positive, helpful, encouraging, and something that will honor God.  Look at Apostle Paul's words His book to the Ephesians:

Ephesians 4:29(NKJV)

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

Otherwise don't say it, don't speak it, don't post it, and don't share it if its not going to edify(help) those who hear you. If we all spoke with this attitude there would be a lot let trash coming out of our mouths and a lot less trash on the internet.  Our words really do matter.

I want to encourage you today to think about your words, your speech, your language, and how they effect you and others and how they represent you and others.  I want us to see the power in our words, our language, and our voices.  Let's use them to benefit others, bless others, encourage others, and let our light shine for God whether it's online, in texts, in emails, in person, or any form or fashion. Our words do matter, our example matters, our character matters, and our representing God matters.  May our lives reflect the words below.

Proverbs 16:24(NKJV)

Pleasant words are like a honeycomb, Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.

Standing at the Gate

Standing at the Gate

Matthew 7:13-14 (niv)

“Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.

It is interesting the word picture Jesus paints here in the book of Matthew as He talks about eternity. I am not sure we grasp the direct language Jesus is using here to describe our eternity.  He is saying the gate and road to Hell is really big and wide and lots of people are entering through it.  However, the gate and road that leads to Heaven  is narrow and small and not many take it.

Do you understand how powerful this picture is?  Do we grasp the severity and seriousness of our eternity?  This illusion that everyone goes to Heaven and God wouldn't send good people to hell is false.  First, only people who have followed God's plan of salvation through Jesus (John 14:6) Christ and remain faithful to this road/gate will see eternity with God in Heaven.  Secondly, God doesn't send anyone to hell, we send ourselves by the gate/road we choose to follow in this life.

The gate/road to Heaven is narrow because it is specific. According to the Bible, Jesus is the only way to God, to salvation, to forgiveness of sins, and heaven.  That means that we must follow His plan and then stay on course.  People want to make the road to Heaven the large and wide gate/road, so that they can do what they want, live how they choose, and then still get rewarded at the end, that is a false hope. The truth is the road to heaven is narrow and the road to hell is the one that is wide open.

You and I have a choice to make.  Who are we going to live for? Ourselves(and the world) or God? Which gate and road are we going to follow? The world's or God's?  Who's Word are we going to believe? God's Word written in His Bible or the opinions of the world? If you were a gambling person, this would be a no brainer.   Yet, for a so many people who may not gamble, we gamble with our very souls every day by choosing this world, our flesh, and evil desires (the wide gate/broad road) over God and His way (the small gate/narrow road).

This blog isn't meant to guilt, scare, or pressure anyone into anything. It's a simple yet powerful reminder that the gate and path to God and eternity with Him is very small, narrow, specific, and direct and the gate to hell and an eternity without God is wide, wide, wide.

May we pick up our Bibles and study God's plan of salvation.  May we open our hearts and pray to God through His Holy Spirit for direction, discernment, wisdom, and guidance. May we surround ourselves with Godly examples, mentors, encouragers, and people who will teach us, help us, and show us the way. May we take and remain on the narrow road.

Finally, may we grasp the seriousness of God's Word and His truth as we stand at the gate of etnerity and make that choice every day.  God already provided the way, but we have to accept it, choose it, and live it.