Taming Our TongueSample

Where do our words come from?

Our words are shaped by the culture around us - family and friends, neighbors and colleagues, social media, and entertainment. Now there is certainly beauty to be appreciated in the positive ways these influences have come to shape how you and I talk. However, there is also a significant danger if these cultural influences are the primary source of our words.

So what should be the source of our words? Or maybe a better question might be, who should be the source of our words?

Jesus provides us with the perfect example of where our words should come from. During His earthly life and ministry, He surrendered everything to the will of the Father - including the words He spoke. John 14:10 records these words fromJesus, "Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works." (Emphasis added) And just a few verses later, we read, "Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; and the word that you hear is not mine, but is from the Father who sent me." (Emphasis added, John‬ ‭14‬:‭24‬ ‭NRSV‬‬)

Fast forward to today. As an apprentice of Jesus, we have been given the gift of the Holy Spirit living inside us as the Eternal source of our words. In the Gospel of Mark, Jesus said, "When they bring you to trial and hand you over, do not worry beforehand about what you are to say; but say whatever is given you at that time, for it is not you who speak, but the Holy Spirit." (‭‭Mark‬ ‭13‬:‭11‬ ‭NRSV)

Today, as you go, take a few minutes to reflect on the source of your words. Are your words overflowing from the transformation happening inside your heart, or are they influenced mainly by the culture around you? ‬‬Are you relying on your own wisdom and strength to shape your words, or have you surrendered your tongue to the work of the Holy Spirit in order that truth and life might flow from your lips? And finally, what would it look like for you to make Jesus the Lord of your words?