What Our Words Teach – Paul Chappell

A solemn reminder – I know I have been careless too often! 

From Paul Chappell’s “Daily in the Word” –
 Wednesday, Aug 26, 2015“I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah.”
Psalm 89:1–4
Every one of us is a teacher. We may not lead a school class of young children or a Sunday school class of adults, but we are still having an impact and influence on those around us. Often we are not aware at the time of how many people are paying attention to the things that we do and say, and only later do we find out how we have helped—or harmed—someone along the way.
Each day we have the opportunity to choose the words that come out of our mouths. The psalmist expressed his desire to have his words praise and exalt God, and that should be the goal each of us has for our lives. Our words are a vital part of the legacy that we leave behind, as they shape not only the way that we are remembered, but the way others think about God. I would like to be both known and remembered as a man who talked often of God’s mercy and faithfulness.
Jesus warned those who are careless with their words of what they will face as a result. “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned” (Matthew 12:36–37). We have multitudes of things for which to praise God, and those are the words that should fill our speech—verbal, written, and electronic.
Today’s Growth Principle: 
Since our words have such a strong impact on others, we should choose them with the utmost care.