The Power of the Spoken Word

In the twelfth chapter of Matthew, Jesus says "...For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks." A few verses later,”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."

Scripture is clear that we are justified through Christ. This is a gift we do not deserve but is given by our Amazing God. (2 Corinthians 5:21) So our actions do not earn us salvation. Therefore, when I read the words of Jesus I am convicted by the power of the spoken word. Have you ever experienced its power? Sometimes words are spoken and carry great joy and excitement. Other times they are spoken with great encouragement and yet there are those times when they carry hurt and pain. Sarcasm is one form of verbal communication that I have realized carries such power. At times it can bring laughter, but more often than not, it can result in confusion and pain towards the one we are communicating too.

Have you watched the words you use? Have you ever thought about how powerful your words can be to your family, friends and co-workers? I am going to work hard on using words to encourage and build up those I come in contact with... as our Lead Pastor once said, "I am going to stop snacking on people." What does the overflow of your heart communicate? Take a moment and read through the Aug. 2007 blog written by Pastor Joe Coffey. I trust it will be an encouragement for us all. Thanks for your support and I pray together we can use our words to encourage, to equip and to honor our King. (Ephesians 4:29; Philippians 4:8-9)

Saturday, August 4, 2007

Snacking on You (Pastor Joe Coffey)

I decided about 3 weeks ago I would stop talking about people. I mean mostly little things like "did you ever notice how he drives? He accelerates and then takes his foot off, then he accelerates and backs off again. My head kept hitting the head rest." I was a little like Jerry Seinfeld finding the humor in every day but it always or nearly always was in the way other people behaved every day. The thing that struck me is that almost no matter what I said or noticed I was comparing. In a maybe not so subtle way I was saying, " I don't drive like that. I am a smooth driver." I know I blogged earlier that I eat food. If I eat food then I snack on people. It is like a junk food that tastes good for a moment but never fills me up. So, I have gone on a no junk food diet. I quit talking about people. Within a couple of days I was really hungry and I all kinds of great observations about other people I could share with my wife. I found as long as I don't say anything out loud I don't really eat. So, I kept all my witty comments inside. I got hungry. The psalmist says, "Taste and see that the Lord is good." In my life I almost always have to quit eating junk in order to be hungry enough to eat what is really good, The God who made my body made my soul.