Life and Death: The Power of Words

²¹ Death and life are in the power of the tongue:
and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof. Proverbs 18:21

My two oldest daughters were just discovering the fun of makeup and beauty products when we traveled the country gathering support for missions many years ago. A young, gorgeous Pastor’s wife in Washington shared with them how she had let beauty take over her life as a teenager. She took that opportunity to share her testimony of how God convicted her over it and then challenged my girls to use the time spent preparing their outward appearance to also invest in their inner spirit. She suggested that as they applied their makeup and did their hair they turn on an audio Bible app so they could listen to God’s Word. Twelve years later, both of my girls recall that conversation and credit it for their routine of beautifying both their spirit and their body at the same time.

I’m not sure if that Pastor’s wife even remembers that conversation, but both my girls look back at it as a pivotal moment in their lives. The power of words can change a life forever in just a moment, either for better or worse.

A quick internet search for cyberbullying tragedies that led to suicide brought incident after incident, published all within the last few months. It is not at all surprising what is happening amongst young people with just a quick glance at social media comments amongst adults. The words “Nazi” and “Hitler” are lobbed at neighbors like ticking time bombs, as if one could give their political party the upper hand with such unwarranted accusations. The immature thugs on the playground have found a more efficient way of wielding their weapons of destruction, and they are no longer bound by location.

It is no coincidence that Satan is called “the accuser of the brethren” in Revelation 12:10. He is the best “fruit inspector” of all. He can find every single flaw in even the godliest saints. His agenda is destruction by whatever means necessary. He does not bring his accusations to other men, though he will use people to further his agenda. Satan brings the accusations to God, the Righteous Judge. Satan is probably not wrong in his accusations, either. Not one human can claim sinlessness, whether redeemed by the blood of Jesus or not. This passage specifically refers to the saints of the future Tribulation period because it also notes that they “loved not their lives unto death.” Even martyrs for the Gospel’s sake are not immune from the accusations of Satan. However, Revelation 12:11 verifies that those accused by Satan overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony.

Jesus’s blood washes away every wicked thought, word, and deed of those who ask for His cleansing; and His Spirit enables lives to reflect this redemption. Though right now Satan continues his “ministry of accusation,” one day God will silence his ceaseless tirade for eternity.

However, for now, we as believers must not be ignorant of Satan’s devices. If he is in Heaven accusing the saints of sin, it is no wonder such accusations continue amongst faithful church members. The “accuser of the brethren” has no problem working in churches, Christian schools, Bible colleges, or within any church ministry. We must be on our guard and ready to speak life despite the constant threat of the fire in our tongues.

Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. ⁷ For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: ⁸ But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. James 3:5-10

Proverbs has a wealth of instruction on using our tongues to bring life rather than death. Ryan Rench has a beautifully thorough compilation of the 117 verses in Proverbs regarding our words. You can find this study here. I am sure it will be as helpful to you as it is to me!

We are all on a spiritual journey, growing day by day in the Lord. We all have used our tongues for death and for life. As long as we have breath on this planet, we will fight the pull to speak hurtful, or even unknowingly, painful things.  Today is a wonderful day to choose to commit our words to the Lord so that they might be fountains of life and not cisterns of poison. If there is someone you recall who needs an apology for hurtful words spoken, why not ask for forgiveness and let God redeem that broken relationship. Let this day be a pivotal moment in your life.

Have a blessed and uplifting weekend, my friends!

Erica B.