Honey From The Rock

www.poeministries.org

Honey From The Rock
Psalm 81:16

"Sweet Stuff From God's Word"

A daily Bible study with Victor Knowles
Copyright 2007

Careless Words

This entry was posted on 03-19-2007 and is filed under Devotional.

"But I tell you that men will have to give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned" (Matthew 12:36,37 NIV).

From time to time I drop in on religious dialogue that is taking place on the Internet. Perhaps because participants can hide behind anonymity I see a lot of words that are not thought out and are sometimes very unkind. Or perhaps it is because with the creation of email one can quickly (carelessly?) send out an instant message. In the "old days" - when we typed letters and used carbon sheets to save a copy - we were more thoughful and careful with our words.

This reminder from Jesus is needed more today than ever. We all need to remember that we will be acquitted or condemned by our words. God knows every word we have spoken. And Bible teachers will be judged even more strictly (James 3:1). That's why James' advice is still good for us today: "Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry" (James 1:19).

Song: Angry words are lightly spoken, Bitt'rest thoughts are rashly stirred, Brightest links of life are broken by a single angry word./"Love one another," thus saith the Savior; Children, obey the Father's blest command. (D.K.P.)