Introduction
Welcome to My Thoughts. This is the sixth and last segment in our Words are Powerful series, Bless Others with your Words. I want you to see how your words are powerful and what you speak over yourself can change your life.
Allow me to draw your attention to this segment’s passage, 1 Peter 3:8-10, “Finally, all of you be of one mind, having compassion for one another; love as brothers, be tenderhearted, be courteous; not returning evil for evil or reviling for reviling, but on the contrary blessing, knowing that you were called to this, that you may inherit a blessing. For ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his hips from speaking deceit.’”
God’s Word is so beautifully clear. If you desire to love life and see good days, all you need to do is to refrain your tongue from speaking evil. It sounds simple. In fact, you may even contend that it is too simple. How many of us truly believe that our tongue has so much influence and power over our future, even our day-to-day living?
Watch Your Tongue
In our “Be in Control of Your Words,” I used James 3:1-12 to teach everyone about how the tongue is powerful and needs to be harnessed. It can be used as a blessing and also a curse if used in a harmful way. The tongue seems minute and insignificant compared to the rest of our body. How can such a little organ, which doesn’t have any skeletal support, have such a direct and pronounced effect on our future?
Yet the Bible reminds us not to despise the tongue simply because it is small. James 3:3-5 states, “Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. Even so, the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles.”
In this passage, James associates the tongue with three items:
- A bridle is a small bit put in the horse’s mouth that can control its entire movements.
- Rudders on a ship control their movements when sailing.
- A spark from either a match or lighting causes a forest fire.
In our world today, lots of anger and strife are caused by not being in control of the words coming out of your mouth, but also coming from your heart. Better to control your tongue to bless others than to let your tongue get out of control and tear others down. Good fruit or words comes from a good heart.
Relationships Form With Our Words
In Proverbs 18:21, which is the base Scripture for our series on how words are powerful, Solomon also declares, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” It is evident that God does not want you to underestimate the power of your words!
Even in relationships, we can either build a solid relational foundation with others or we can destroy it with just our words. We all should strive to build healthy relationships with each other and it also makes you a healthy person inside and out. Proverbs 12:18, “There is one who speaks like the piercings of a sword, but the tongue of the wise promotes health.”
Power Forms Our Words
Let us look again at Proverbs 18:21 and the statement, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” Very powerful statement as many people in the world, past and present, have become victims of violence over a few simple words. Proverbs 13:3, “He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” There is no excuse to use your words to cause violence. Nobody wins, everybody loses.
Notice Peter’s quote was made in the context of our relationships with people. As you have been transformed by the gospel of grace, God also wants to transform your relationships with people. These people would be your spouse, kids, parents, relatives, friends, colleagues, employers, business associates, and any other person you come in contact with.
Remember that not only does God want us to love other believers, but we also must pray for our enemies. Do not cause any harm to them, “not returning evil for evil” (v. 9). We will face plenty of personal persecution for our beliefs, so as Peter warned us, be prepared!
Be a Blessing With Your Words
I believe that people who have been touched by the grace of God are carriers of His Spirit of humility and graciousness. We are not people who render “evil for evil, reviling for reviling” (v.9). We are people called to be a blessing everywhere we go. That’s the grace revolution in action. Our Lord Jesus first transforms your relationship with God from the inside out, and that grace that you have experienced overflows into all your earthly relationships like a mighty tidal wave.
Let me show you something very interesting. The original Greek word for “blessing” in 1 Peter 3:9 is eulogeo, which means “to speak well of” and is where we get the English word “eulogy.” That is the key to speaking a blessing! Every time you speak well of something, you are blessing that thing and being a blessing!
Conclusion
As Peter wrote starting out this passage, “finally,” which means, “to sum it all up.” So speak well of your marriage, your children, your family, and your friends. That’s how you bless and become a blessing everywhere you go. Bless your body too, by speaking well of it, and don’t keep saying it’s getting old.
To love one another and to love life, we must meet certain conditions:
- Intentionally decide to love life.
- Control our tongues.
- Do good and hate evil.
- See and pursue peace.
Speak well also of your relationship with the Lord. Call yourself the beloved of the Lord. Declare His protection, favor, and righteousness over you and your loved ones, and begin to experience His blessings like never before. Every time you speak His blessings over your life, you are taking possession of your blessed place in Jesus, Amen!
I am Dale Van De Bogart and I approve of this message!
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