“You brood of vipers. How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
- We have all made the statement, “I really didn’t mean what I said”, when we probably did. Our “slip of the tongue” was not a word problem, it was a heart problem. If we look back in verse 34, we are told, “For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” The negative words, the gossip, the ugly comments, and the profanity; they do not just slip out, they reflect your true heart.
- Think back on the words you spoke yesterday, your conversation topics, your choice of words, etc.; are you at peace with the condition of your heart?
- Do your words lift people, or bring them down?
- Are you filled with gossip, or with positives?
- Does what come out of your mouth differ from someone who does not know Christ?
- Where is your heart leading your words?
- What account can you give for the words you spoke yesterday?
- What will your words hold today?
- Decide today, will your words bring justification, or condemnation?
Dear Lord, my prayer is not that you clean up my words, but that you clean up my heart. Amen