** The power of an encouraging word ** Proverbs 10:11 The mouth of a righteous man is a well of life, but violence covers the mouth of the wicked. Usually we think of communication as two people talking face to face. But communication is far more than that. Speaking one day to a group of men who didnt really want anything to do with God, Jesus said, For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks (Matthew 12:34). Words reveal the very condition of a persons heart. They are a channel for communicating meaning, and they are extremely powerful, for better or worse. Words have the power to encourage, inspire, direct, pull someone whos in danger back from the edge of a cliff, bring peace, and -- their ultimate purpose -- point people to Jesus. Solomon wrote, a wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit (Proverbs 15:4). There is power in words. Life, true life, is brought by words. Words also have tremendous value. Proverbs 20:15 says, There is gold and a multitude of rubies, but the lips of knowledge are a precious jewel. Money and precious gems might prop up the estates of the rich, but they will never end the permanent longing our hearts have for a sense of meaning and purpose. Only words pointing us to Jesus Christ can bring meaning in a universe so vast we can never hope to grasp it. Such words are valuable indeed. Dont underestimate the power of an encouraging word, or the impact of a negative comment. Our words carry with them enormous meaning, whether we intend them to or not.
Posted on: Thu, 09 Oct 2014 13:20:45 +0000
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