OUR WORDS

“Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things.  Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth!  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.  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: But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.  Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.  Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not so to be.”

James 3:5-10 KJV

Have you ever heard someone say “Sticks and stones may break my bones but names will never hurt me”?  That is a lie.  When we say mean and cruel words to people we might as well take a gun and shoot them or stab them with a knife because hateful and cruel words do hurt us.

When I was in high school, some of the students called me names and told me that I was fat, ugly, and stupid.  I was told this so many times that I tried to commit suicide three times.  Doctors, pastors and our friends can counsel us and encourage us but only Jesus can heal a broken heart. 

Jesus understands more than anyone could ever understand how much it hurts when people say cruel and mean words to us.  Jesus was mocked, ridiculed and cursed when He was here on His mission so He knows how much it hurts.  May God have mercy on us if we have hurt people by what we said to them.

Joanne Lowe

August 6, 2015