OUR WORDS
 

PROVERBS 25:11

" A word fitly spoken is like apples of

gold in pictures of silver."
 

The word 'fitly' in this verse means: In season,

appropriate. The impression it portrays is that

of a lovely work of art; refreshing, inspiring, precious,

and valuable. Solomon writes in PROVERBS 15:23

" a word in due season, how good it is!"

Often we fail to realize the impact our words

have on others. Job was greatly comforted by

his friends while they sat with him in silence.

It was after they began to speak that he called them

"miserable comforters all!" (JOB 16:21)

Job's friends definitely did not have the

'tongue of the learned, to know how to speak a

word in season to him that is weary,' did they?!

(ISAIAH 50:4)

We need to pray as David did in PSALMS 14:3

" set a watch, o Lord, before my mouth; keep the

door of my lips." Paul also tells us in

EPHESIANS 4:29

"let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth, but that which is

good to the use of edifying, to give grace

to the hearers." We need to speak words of

encouragement to each other, to uplift one

another, and not say things that will hurt others.

Our primary task as Christians is to win the

lost to Christ. Every word spoken in the presence

of the unsaved should be spoken with that goal

in mind. If our words hurt or harm an unbeliever,

then we have lost the ability to witness to that person.

Simply put, if our words fail in promoting Christ,

then they should remain unsaid!

Let our prayer be, as was the Psalmist's:

" let the words of my mouth and the meditation

of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, o Lord,

my strength and my redeemer."

May we ever be mindful that as Christians

our words show forth the character of Christ.

Only then will our words be as precious and

fitly spoken as "apples of gold in pictures of silver!

Shirley
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