From My Perspective - - -
The English language is both complex and
expressive. By the means of nuance and inflection, the most innocent remark can
be interpreted negatively rather than positively. It lends a lot of credence to
the ditty one would sing with the children: “Be careful little mouth what you
say…” The reason attached to that (a) the words we use matter greatly, and (b)
accountability for every word – idle or intentional – is not a suggestion but a
guarantee.
Two Biblical references that serve as good counsel are: (1) Proverbs
10:19-21 (ESV), “When words are many, transgression is not
lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent. The
tongue of the righteous is choice silver; the heart of the
wicked is of little worth. The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools
die for lack of sense.” (2) The words of Jesus Christ in
Matthew 12:36-37, “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." The Proverbs addresses
“many words” and Matthew quotes Jesus regarding “every careless word.” It is
often the “many words” that will cause misunderstanding and division among
friends in particular and cross-sections of people in general. The paraphrase
of Matthew 12:36-37 in The Message are descriptive and plain: “Let me tell you
something: Every one of these careless words is going to come back to haunt
you. There will be a time of Reckoning. Words are powerful; take them
seriously. Words can be your salvation. Words can also be your
damnation."
In current events, one word that has a “haunting”
impact is a word used by the President of the United States. What was the word?
It was “Period!” He offered it as an exclamation and a fact in reality. Why is
it “haunting”? The statements made with the emphasis “Period!” in actuality
were more like a dangling participle or an ellipsis rather than a fact or
reality. The President was attempting to persuade people that the new health
law would not prevent anyone from keeping their own Doctor and their own
Insurance plan. Did that become fact or fiction? Do words matter? Do words
matter to you? We should be reminded of the words in Proverbs 15:1-2,
“A
soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly,
but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness.”
The little words for focus are the words “too”
and/or “yet”! Over the years, I have found these words to be invaluable. Some
time ago there was the use of BPWMGIDWMY – “Be Patient With Me, God Isn’t Done
With Me YET.” Words attributed to John Newton convey a similar thought: “I am
not what I ought to be — ah, how imperfect and deficient! I am not what I wish
to be — I abhor what is evil, and I would cleave to what is good! I am not what
I hope to be — soon, soon shall I put off mortality, and with mortality all sin
and imperfection. Yet, though I am not what I ought to be, nor what I wish to
be, nor what I hope to be, I can truly say, I am not what I once was; a slave
to sin and Satan; and I can heartily join with the apostle, and acknowledge,
"By the grace of God I am what I am." It is not surprising that he would
pen the words to: “Amazing Grace, how sweet the sound; that saved a wretch like
me…
The other word for focus and emphasis is
the word “too”! Many times in the life of different ones affliction, pain,
suffering, sorrow and/or grief can become overbearing and overwhelming. This
was a factor in the life of The Apostle Paul. He records it in II Corinthians
12:7-10, “So to keep me from becoming conceited because of
the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a
thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to
harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times
I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. But he said
to me: My grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more
gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may
rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and
calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” When any
of us endures affliction, pain, suffering, sorrow or grief – we should embrace
the words of The Lord to Paul – “My grace is sufficient for you…” I remind
myself – and you – His Grace is sufficient for you – TOO! The Lord is not done
with you YET! The Lord’s Grace is sufficient for you TOO! Consider these things
with me!
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