“Do you see a man who is hasty in his words? There is more hope for a fool than for him.”-Proverbs 29:20 (ESV)

Landmines are dangerous weapons. They are lethal in that they do not discriminate between friend or foe, or combatant or civilian. When an army decides to use landmines in a given area to combat enemy forces, they run the risk of harming innocent lives and even themselves! If a minefield is not properly marked anyone, even the very people who laid these weapons, can be vulnerable to is destructive power. They can sometimes be soldiers unwittingly walking to their deaths, or little children a step away from getting maimed or worse. There are organizations which seek the complete ban on the usage of landmines, and are actively involved in clearing battle-scarred nations of these tools of war so that they may not cause anymore harm.

Our careless words often have the same effect. When we say things without thinking, we are essentially laying mines for both ourselves and others to step on. We make promises we cannot keep, and hurt the people we love and care about. The result is strained and broken relationships which bring us much pain and regret. Though these may not manifest themselves immediately, like a landmine in wait they will explode on us and others when we least expect it. But how can we control our tongues? Trying to keep a filter on our mouths can seem to be an impossible task. However, if we rely on our own efforts to keep reign over what we say, we are guaranteed an uphill struggle. Only when we have allowed Christ to work in our hearts and have adopted His righteousness will our mouths reflect His wisdom, love, and goodness. By permitting His Spirit to help us conform to Christ’s likeness, He will be able to use our tongues to bring life and healing to those around us, and towards His restorative purposes for the world.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” -1 John 3:18 (NIV)

It is tragic when words become nothing more than meaningless utterances. Many make promises and commitments to stand up for justice, to display love in all circumstances, and to serve with willing hearts. However, when the time comes to put these words into practice few actually take up the challenge they have issued themselves. We quietly shrink away from opportunities to show our love, conjuring up a variety of excuses to dodge the responsibility we have to act upon what we have proclaimed. This reduces our words to mere empty talk. Often we fail to recognize that the weight of our declarations to love is dependant on our actions. Without actions to support these declarations, they become cruel and hypocritical statements for those who need to be shown compassion.

To truly love is not an easy task. It requires us to sacrifice our pride, our interests, our comforts, and our resources for the sake of the other. That is why it is incredibly easy to simply say that we will love because it does not require much of us. We can sit back in our self-satisfaction thinking that we are wonderful people for saying the right things. Yet Christ requires that we go far beyond the verbal if we claim to be His children. He did not come down to Earth so that He could merely declare to humanity that He loves them and will save them from their depravity. Rather, Christ made this tangible to us. Sacrificing Himself on the cross He performed an act of love that known no parallel in human history. Through His death and resurrection all who come to Him, regardless of their past, their race, their gender, their wealth, or the age in which they live, have the hope of being redeem from their sinful nature and restored by His Spirit. When we allow Christ to mould our hearts and seek to imitate Him through His enabling, He will ensure that we display His love not just by or words, but the actions that accompany them.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“Above all, my brothers, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. Let your ‘Yes’ be yes, and your ‘No,’ no, or you will be condemned.” –James 5:12 (NIV)

We hear it all the time. Phrases and variants of these phrases such as, “I didn’t do it, I swear to God!” or “Promise to God I will do it!” are so commonplace that we do not even stop to think about it. But why? Why must we swear by God, or by anything else for that matter, when explaining ourselves? Often times we do this to express our sincerity and truthfulness. By involving God we hope to prove and convince those around us that we are serious about what we are saying. Ironically however, such attempts often fail to prove that we are genuine. Many times when we swear by God that we will do something or are telling the truth, we do the exact opposite! Instead of showing our earnestness, it accentuates our hypocrisy; cheapening the name of God in the process.

God is the manifestation of truth. It is impossible for Him to deceive because it goes against His holy nature. Likewise as human beings created in His image, we are programmed to value the truth. That is why seek honesty in our interactions with each other. Honesty builds relationships and trust. However, because we have been corrupted by sin we have become horridly selfish creatures; willing to sacrifice the truth if it preserves our own interests. But this is not meant to be! God takes seriously anything done in His name. If we swear by Him while failing to honour with our lives the name we have sworn by, we will stand condemned as the verse indicates. We are designed to be sentinels for truth, not crooks who use deceit to cover up their real intentions. When we allow the Spirit of Christ to cleanse us of our sinful nature and place upon us His righteousness, He will train us and empower us to pursue that which is right and pure no matter what the cost. We will not need to swear by anything, for we will have nothing to hide as long as we submit ourselves to Christ; giving meaning to both our “yes” and our “no”.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“In everything set them an example by doing what is good…show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us.” –Titus 2:7-8 (NIV)

First impressions are always important. How we are portrayed in the minds of others is often determined by the initial contact we make with them. Whether it is a job interview or meeting a new person for the first time, we are taught to put our best foot forward in an effort to present ourselves well. But as we become more familiar with others however, our true personalities begin to reveal themselves. We may take for granted that because the other person has achieved a certain level of friendship with us; we can take certain liberties around them without any consequences to our relationship with them. Yet so often we fall into this trap of unknowingly hurting others by our careless words and choices; even if we have not done so directly to them. By the time we realize the example we have been setting, the damage is done and we lament over our folly.

Living a blameless life never does harm. On the contrary it will ultimately serve to the benefit of ourselves and of others. Abiding in the righteousness of Christ leads not only to a restored relationship with God, but brings healing and life to human relationships as well. That is why it is imperative that in our interactions with others we do not use familiarity as a reason to justify our willingness to say or do that which is not in keeping with what is right and pure. Sin taints all that it touches and like a corrosive acid it will break the precious bonds which bind us to those we love. Wherever we are placed, in whatever context, we are to live in a manner that pleases Christ so that no one will have an excuse to condemn us of being unashamed hypocrites. But if we think we can do this on our own, we are mistaken and will find it to be an impossible task. It is only when we have allowed the Spirit of Christ to enter our lives and free us from our bondage to sin that we will be made righteous through Him. By submitting our thoughts and attitudes to His Spirit’s refining work we will rest securely in the fact that when we walk blamelessly in Him, we are participants in His restorative mission to the world; with none able to justly condemn us.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“How good and pleasant it is when brothers live together in unity!” Psalm 133:1 (NIV)

All of us desire peace. We want to be at that place in our lives when we are at peace with those around us. Yet at times the peace that we hope and yearn for proves to be elusive. In our sinful impulses and human failings, we quarrel over things which have no real consequence, say things that we do not really mean, and act in a regrettable manner towards others. When we see the damaging effects of our petulant behaviour we know that this is not meant to be the way in which we must live. That is what motivates our quest for peace; the cherished calm and joy which comes from living with one another in harmony.

However, if we try to cultivate that peace through our own wisdom and efforts it will not last. As long as sin continues to exhibit a hold on our lives, serenity will continue to slip away from our grasp. The source of strife is our sinful nature. It is what compels us to act in ways which ultimately fail to bring us peace. Our only cure is when we allow Christ to reside in our hearts; accepting His redemptive sacrifice for us and permitting Him to break the chains that sin holds in our lives. When we make that choice to submit our attitudes and thoughts to Him, He will fill us with His everlasting peace. By resting in the peace which Christ gives us, only then will we be able to dwell with each other in love and unity. He will give us His Spirit of discernment to choose our words carefully and act according to His righteousness through His enabling. When we choose to step outside His perfect will and fail to allow Him to take reign over our thoughts and actions, we will not find peace either with ourselves or with others. But when we choose to live in accordance with Christ, we will be able to live in harmony with those around us; bearing witness to the assured hope of the human race being restored through Him.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

“A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” –Proverbs 15:1 (ESV)

Mirrors are fascinating things. Whenever we act before it from our first-person perspective, the mirror reflects back an image of ourselves doing the very same thing. It continues to be a source of amusement for children, as well as some adults too! But often times we act like mirrors ourselves. When someone lashes out in anger and malice towards us, how many of us would respond in kind? I would dare say that it is our default response. Sin has numbed our minds to how we are meant to act and react. Thus, our standard for action becomes dependant on the actions of others. The problem with this however is that by responding harshly to an angry word, we only serve to stoke the fire of rage in ourselves and in others; realizing our folly only when the damage has been done.

In our foolishness we often see answering in gentleness in the face of fury as something for the weak and submissive. However, it is anything but. Anyone can use their tongues for destruction for it is embedded in our sinful nature. But it takes someone with wisdom and courage to respond with words of healing and reconciliation amidst the wrathful cries of others. Yet can this gentleness come from ourselves? It cannot for if we honestly look into ourselves, we can see that our innate wickedness prevents us from acting as such despite our most sincere efforts. Only through Christ’s Spirit dwelling within our hearts are we able to act in gentleness and restraint. When we allow Him to cleanse us of our sinful nature through our acceptance of His redemptive sacrifice on the cross, He clothes us with His righteousness and gives us His Spirit to help us perfect this righteousness. However, we have a choice. When we fail to listen to the Spirit and instead obey the voices of our old sinful nature, we will allow anger to leave destruction in its wake and deprive us and others of peace. But when we listen to the Spirit and seek to keep in step with Him, He will guide our actions in such a way as to allow His gentleness and love to flow through us; quenching the fires of anger in all who bear witness.

Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version® (ESV®), copyright © 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.

“A man finds joy in giving an apt reply- and how good is a timely word!” –Proverbs 15:23 (NIV)

Words are powerful. They can either build up a person’s life or shatter it completely. In most cases the turning point in the life of a person, either for better or for worse, was usually something that was said to them which either uplifted them or brought them great discouragement. In those critical moments, an encouraging or wise word from someone else can do wonders for their soul. But if we think that just saying something damaging or untimely to a person undergoing a crisis is detrimental, our silence is equally so! How many people could be spared from the misery of being bound to crippling insecurities and destructive lifestyles if someone simply came alongside them and ministered to them through their presence and by telling them of the hope found in Christ?

As children of Christ, we witness not solely through our actions, but through our words as well. Christ gave us mouths for that purpose; to praise and glorify Him and to bear testimony to His love and righteousness in us. Sometimes we remain silent out of fear. We ask ourselves whether if we could really intervene in a given situation through our words and provide comfort, healing, and encouragement. But we do not out of our own wisdom and ability. When we have allowed Christ to reside within our hearts and permitted Him to make Himself manifest in our lives, He will be the one who will give us the words to speak. In our weaknesses and our inabilities, He is the one who enables and empowers us. When we allow Him to speak through us when He has called us to minister in specific situations, we will have the wonderful privilege of bearing witness to His redemptive work in our lives as He places those timely words in our mouth. We should never allow our insecurities in our own abilities to hinder Christ’s redemptive mission. It is only when we surrender our mouths to Him that He will fill us with His wisdom and love so that He may bring healing and restoration to a broken world.

Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 by International Bible Society. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.