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Words

Social media is full of harsh comments, venting, and unkindness. Pointed opinions invite heated replies and stoke the fire of senseless debate. It’s so much easier to sit behind a screen and say things I would never say face to face. I can’t count the number of times I have clicked send and then immediately wished I could get the words back. How many times have you? You can’t put toothpaste back in the tube, and you can’t take back words once they’ve been spoken or sent.

If we aren’t cautious, our opinions will turn into words spoken in judgment. Those words, so easily typed or said, can become daggers to the heart of the receiver. I’ve known so many people (myself included) who have regretted words spoken or typed in a moment of passion or frustration, but I’ve never known anyone who regretted withholding them. Words carry enormous power—the power to heal or wound, encourage or discourage, speak truth or deceive, praise or criticize. A great question to ask ourselves before we respond in the heat of the moment is, “What is the potential outcome from the words I’m about to say? Will my words speak life or death?” I’m learning that if I can’t speak life, I shouldn’t say or type anything. 

Ninety-nine percent of the time, Jesus spoke to opportunity. He breathed life into people with His words. There was only one group of people Jesus ever had harsh words for: the Pharisees. Why? Their words sucked the life out of people. Their rules, regulations, and rituals kept people from discovering a relationship with the One who came to fulfill the law they wanted to protect. They put conditions on the unconditional love of Jesus. We have a choice every day when it comes to our words. We can, like Jesus, use our words to breathe life into people, or we can use our words to suck the life right out of them. Let’s look for opportunities to lay down our opinions and desire to be right and live in the strength and confidence of Jesus.