Is Jesus Lord...

... of our speech?

“Rather, clothe yourselves with the Lord Jesus Christ, and do not think about how to gratify the desires of the flesh”. Romans 13:14

 

Parts of this lesson are borrowed from a sister whom I truly respect. I thought that when I became a Christian that I put my careless speech to death but I realize that sometimes I am allowing its resurrection and often without realizing it.

One thing that I believe is truth is this: If Jesus is Lord of my life, then I am his slave and I no longer live to gratify myself but to please God. If I choose to be a good and faithful servant then He rewards me with eternal life and also a peace that passes understanding during my life.

But how can I be this kind of servant? I believe that I am being transformed into the likeness of Christ but only if I allow myself to. Transformations are often times difficult and lengthy, but day by day I can be different.

³³ “Make a tree good and its fruit will be good, or make a tree bad and its fruit will be bad, for a tree is recognized by its fruit. ³⁴ You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of. ³⁵ A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. ³⁶ But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. ³⁷ For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.” Matt 12:33-37

Jesus says here that we will be judged for every careless word. I believe that God forgives me my sin because I am a Christian - but is my speech reflecting that I am a follower of Jesus? I still have to live a life that shows accountability because as this scripture says that the mouth speaks what is in the heart.

What does my speech say about my heart? Do I have disciplined speech?

¹⁷ Whoever heeds discipline shows the way to life,
    but whoever ignores correction leads others astray.

¹⁸ Whoever conceals hatred with lying lips
    and spreads slander is a fool.

¹⁹ Sin is not ended by multiplying words,
    but the prudent hold their tongues.

²⁰ The tongue of the righteous is choice silver,
    but the heart of the wicked is of little value.  

Prov 20:18-20

There is so much in this passage from the wisest man that has ever lived. So much that talks about how we choose to speak and therefore what is in our hearts.

From this passage I get that I must exercise self-control when it comes to my speech. Do I talk too much and therefore say things that I shouldn’t? Do I think that I have all the right answers about everything when it comes to someone else’s sin or do I pray and look to the Word for answers? Am I gossiping about and slandering others?

You know the Greek word for slanderer is “Diavolos” which means from the Devil. Am I using my speech in a way that Satan wants me to or in the way God wants me to? 

“If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God…”  

1 Peter 4:11a

Finally, a passage that is familiar to most of us. However, am I taking it to heart? Can I say that all my speech is useful to others? Is it uplifting or am I cursing and complaining all the time?

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29

I am tempted to say that God gives me freedom and I can say what I want to say. But is that really the truth? I think I am free to choose in which way I want to live but my choices all have consequences. Am I prepared to live with those?

Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived:Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men^[a] 10 nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. ¹¹ And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.  

1 Corinthians 6:9-11


Melanie Reid, Düsseldorf