Daily Bread_February 19, 2014

Title: The Power of Words to Hurt and Heal           

Text:

Proverbs 10:18-21 (HCSB)
¹⁸ The one who conceals hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.
¹⁹ When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is wise.
²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is pure silver; the heart of the wicked is of little value.
²¹ The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of sense.

Observation:

At its best life can be difficult. Inappropriate words spoken at the wrong time can be devastating. Our words have the power to build or destroy. Notice what the Word says about this unruly member.

James 3:6-8 (NLT)
⁶ And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself.
⁷ People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish,
⁸ but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison.

The problem is with the heart. Is your heart right before God? When you open your mouth are you speaking from the wisdom of God or the wisdom of the world? Get God’s Word in you and the best will come out of you.

Hebrews 4:12 (NLT)
¹² For the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two-edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires.

Prayer:

Our Father in heaven, my dear Father, I pray that we will heed the admonition of the Word of God to guard our heart and discipline our tongue. In the name of Jesus I pray, Amen.

“Lord, You have searched me and You have known me.
You understand my thoughts from afar!
You comprehend my path and are acquainted with all my ways,
For there is not a word on my tongue,
But behold You know it all together!

• Search me, O God, and know my heart;
  Try me and know my anxieties;
  See if there is any wicked in me,
  And lead me in the way everlasting!”

Source: http://www.hymnal.net/en/hymn.php/ns/332#ixzz2tRK6f1AB

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Matthew 4:4 (HCSB)
⁴ But He answered, “It is written: Man must not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.”

Psalm 2:8 (HCSB)
⁸ Ask of Me, and I will make the nations Your inheritance and the ends of the earth Your possession.

My blog: Sharing the Word of God Daily:

http://herbcotton.blogspot.com/