Sunday, April 13 - Proverbs 18:21

I LOVE to read the same verse from in the Bible in a bunch of different translations, and it is really easy to do this at www.biblegateway.com. I'll usually read 3-4, and there's usually one version that will make me think, "Okay, I totally get it now!"

This time, the "Aha!" version for me was The Message. Proverbs 18:21 in The Message version says it like this:

"Words kill, words give life. They're either poison or fruit - you choose."

Whether we realize it or not, most of what we say is either tearing someone down or picking someone up. This seems a little hard to believe, because we're really not TRYING to tear people down or lift them up most of the time... Usually, we're just...talking! Maybe you're not trashing someone directly, but you're constantly pointing out the bad stuff in a situation and fearing the worst. Your words are bringing the people around you down - even if you are not saying mean things about them.

If we were more careful about the things we say... if we CHOSE our words with careful thought rather than rambling on without thinking... we wouldn't hurt so many people, and we wouldn't BE hurt by so many people.

So often times, our failure to "choose our words" causes the hurt in the first place. To make matters worse, once we're involved in a hurtful situation, we're usually even MORE careless with our words (thinking that the other person deserves it, or that we're just "venting"), which just leads to more hurt on both sides. What would happen if the next time you were involved in a hurtful situation with someone and tried to work it out by approaching them, you chose words that give life, even if you don't feel like they deserve it?

Recognize the power of what you say. Choose words that make people feel good about themselves and their situation, and in turn they will feel good about you. If you are involved in a hurtful situation and have the opportunity to approach the person who hurt you, don't choose death just because they did. Break the cycle. Choose life.


Love you guys,

Pastor Courtney