Before the Cross: 31 Days of ServingSample

Day 24 – Speak 'Not' Against

Our tongue is one of the most powerful weapons we have. We can speak “life giving words” to someone and build them up, encourage them, etc. or we can tear them down immediately with just a couple of words. I think on top of this, most of our issues are when we tear someone down when they aren’t present.

Most people would think “I’m not going to criticize this person” but as we make jokes of others, make fun of them on social networking (whether or not we say their name), or jump on the bandwagon of making fun of what’s popular today, we are using the tongue God gave us to tear people down and that in no way will glorify Christ.

If you speak evil against someone else, you are speaking evil against someone that God created. Every person counts and we should love our neighbors as ourselves, but first love God because He first loved us. Instead, let’s use our tongue to give “life giving words” to everyone we come into contact with.

As we encourage others and build them up, that is a way people can see the love of Christ in us. Let’s be quick to listen, and slow to speak (James 1:19).

Who can you speak ‘not’ against to, today?