Sticks and Stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me...

When I was young, I remember saying that when someone called me a name or said something to me that hurt my feelings. It is a child's way of saying "Get thee behind me satan!!" But, the fact is that words can and do hurt! As a matter of fact, words can cause spiritual life or death and, as Jesus tells us in Matthew 12, we will be acquitted (released from blame) or condemned (rejected as unfit) according to EVERY word spoken.

The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give 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." Matt. 12:35-37

When I think back over my life, MY ENTIRE LIFE, I am sickened by the things I may have said against someone or to someone that I will stand judgement for one day. Of course, I have repented and AM FORGIVEN. But, what can I do now? I can make a conscious effort every single moment of every single day to make sure that my words bring only love to everyone. I know that there will be times that I fail. I am certainly not perfect. Only God is perfect and blameless. But, I do know that God knows my heart and as long as I am constantly trying to lead a life worthy of conforming to the image of Christ, God will judge me according to that.

What do we do when others speak against us? Matthew 5:44 says,

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you."

Now, as Christians, we are called to pray for them! We are called to LOVE them! We are even called to DO GOOD to them! Difficult??? YES!!! Impossible??? NO! Christ IN ME will do it THROUGH ME!!! So, now we pray...

Heavenly Father, thank you for using familiar situations in my life to instruct me and bring me into a deeper relationship with You. God, I ask your forgiveness for anything that I may have ever let come out of my mouth that contradicts YOUR character. Knowing that you are a gracious and merciful God, I am forgiven. Now, please show me the way to become more like you with every word that comes from my mouth. Let me always speak good instead of evil and let me always bring glory to your name. In Jesus' name I pray. Amen.