“But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment.” – Matthew 12:36
Hi, friends! I hope that you are well. Thank you so much for your continued show of love and support. It means so much to me that you follow and read my blog. As always, I appreciate you!!!
On average, a person might speak thousands of words on any given day. I’m more of a quiet person, so my numbers are probably far fewer. But, I’ve been giving some thought to what Jesus said in Matthew 12:36 – that we will have to give an account for every idle word we speak.
That’s sobering. Generally, I’m very intentional about making sure the words I speak or write are seasoned with grace toward the hearer, as Colossians 4:6 commands us. But, just like you, I’m not perfect. And the words of Jesus in Matthew 12 make me think of a time when my words were not seasoned with grace.
Even though I know God has forgiven me – and I’m thankful for that – because that’s not me or my norm, it saddens me to think that I was pushed to the point where I used words that were not becoming of a Christian.
I’m not one to spar with words when others disagree with me. I do not like conflict and almost always work to keep peace and resolve problems respectfully.
The time that I am thinking about was when someone disrespected me in a way that I never would have imagined. The righteous indignation I felt was something I’d only experienced on a smaller scale when as a teenager a younger cousin spat in my face (why, I’m still unsure of).
I cannot stand being disrespected. I’m sure no one likes it. But still itis not a reason to use idle words that do not add or uplift. Admittedly, I only used those idle words because it seemed to be the only language that the person could understand clearly.
The words we say are powerful. They definitely should be used to encourage, to inspire, and to build people up and not tear them down. Even if we are being treated poorly or it may feel justifiable in the moment, we must always choose to show Christ. Because our thoughts, our words, and our actions matter.
So, I learned not to allow anyone or any circumstance to get me out of character to stoop to their level. I choose to show love when others don’t. I choose to be respectful when others are disrespectful. And I choose to be kind when others are unkind.
That’s what Jesus does for you and me. He shows us patience, love, and kindness even when we don’t deserve it. So, let’s follow Jesus’ example.
Will you follow Jesus with me?
The psalmist prayed, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14). That’s my prayer today. What’s yours? How do you handle the moments when your words are tested?
Share your thoughts!