GLORIFYING GOD EVEN IN OUR SPEECH

As Christians,we are called to a higher standard of living.God commands us to be "perfect as He is" and he goes on to tell us how we can practically live for His glory (1 Corinthians 10:31).It's important to realize that on our own and by our own strength we cannot,but "through Christ who strengthens us" all is possible.But we need to co-operate with God.

For a long time I didn't get what Christianity was all about.I thought it was enough to confess that I believe in God.I thought it was enough to attend church,do my devotion and talk about God.But God convicted me that it is not enough,He wanted me to surrender everything to him.And he has been teaching me this since then.I've come to realise that if we want to reach the standard God has called to,we are to offer our lives to Him and allow Him to direct every aspect in our lives.

And it is God's desire to have a say over every aspect of our lives:from what we eat,how we speak,how to serve Him and more.The reason for this is because He wants to help us to be like Him and he wants to give us victory over every area of our lives-including our speech-our words.The Bible tells us that our speech "to be always seasoned with grace"(Colossians 4:6) and we are called to "speak in hyms" (Ephesians 5:19) and "to let no corrupt talk to come out of our mouths" (Ephesians 4:29).

Jesus always spoke to edify and he spoke a word in season (Psalm 45:2;Isaiah 50:4) and that's what God would like us to do.Our speech should prove that we have been with Christ.When Peter denied Christ,His spech betrayed Him.It proved that He had been with Christ.Our words can either draw others to Christ or away from Him.So many times we fail God by our words-instead of encouraging and  expressing kindness,we often criticise and find fault.Or sometimes our words are all about us-our achievements,our desires,our opinions and at the end of the day,people end up seeing us instead of God.

God wants us to please Him even with our words.Instead of speaking of ourselves and focusing on us,instead of spending time speaking of ourselves,instead of being rude and ever expressing anger,God wants us our words to lead others to Him.He wants us to be pure-not only abstain sexually or in thoughts,but to be pure even in our words.

God's word defines a perfect individual as one who has control over her tongue.When we look at Jesus,even by His words he blessed people.Never do we see him snapping at others,calling them "stupid",complaining but he always spoke about God and the salvation of others was first.
 

James 3:5-12

⁵ Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. ⁶ The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole body, sets the whole course of one’s life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.
⁷ All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
⁹ With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in God’s likeness. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not be. ¹¹ Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring? ¹² My brothers and sisters, can a fig tree bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Neither can a salt spring produce fresh water.
  
From this Scripture below,we learn that we need to be mindful even of our words because they can either displease or please God.

"The power of speech is a talent that should be diligently cultivated. Of all the gifts we have

received from God, none is capable of being a greater blessing than this. With the voice we convince

and persuade, with

it we offer prayer and praise to God, and with it we tell others of the Redeemer's

love. How important, then, that it be so trained as to be most effective for good."-COL,p.325

"Not one word is to be spoken unadvisedly. No evil speaking, no frivolous talk, no fretful repining or

impure suggestion, will escape the lips of him who is following Christ. The apostle Paul, writing by the

Holy Spirit, says, "Let no corrupt communica

tion proceed out of your mouth." Eph. 4:29. A corrupt

communication does not mean only words that are vile. It means any expression contrary to holy

principles and pure and undefiled religion. It includes impure hints and covert insinuations of evil.Unless instantly resisted,these lead to great sin"-COL,p337

"As followers of Christ we should make our words such as to be a help and an encouragement to one

another in the Christian life. Far more than we do, we need to speak of the precious chapters in our

experience. We should speak of the mercy and loving-k

indness of God, of the matchless depths of the

Saviour's love. Our words should be words of praise and thanksgiving. If the mind and heart are full of

the love of God, this will be revealed in the conversation. It will not be a difficult matter to impart t

hat

which enters into our spiritual life. Great thoughts, noble aspirations, clear perceptions of truth, unselfish

purposes, yearnings for piety and holiness, will bear fruit in words that reveal the character of the heart

treasure. When Christ is thus rev

ealed in our speech, it will have power in winning souls to Him."-COL,p338

WE ARE ACCOUNTABLE FOR OUR SPEECH

#A_Higher_Standard_of _living