Weekly Thoughts are published every Wednesday on our Facebook page and soon after here on our website. Every month we produce a pdf file of the previous 4 thoughts. If you’d like a copy please email sjekillileagh@gmail.com. Printer copies are also available in the church.
Perhaps you know someone who has no filter and speaks without thinking? Words like these can have a devastating effect; equally thoughtful words can work to support someone. Before you speak do you consider if your words will cause issues or encourage peace?
“What you say flows from what is in your heart,” says Jesus in Luke 6:45. “ Fruit reveals the health of a tree, just as a tongue reveals what is happening in the heart.” When I read this, it helps me to understand when sometimes the words I chose to use, while true, were not said with consideration for others. In James 3 we read that the tongue is unstable and cannot seem to be tamed.
This is where the gifts of the Holy Spirt come in, for when it enters our life we receive many benefits. Paul writes in Galatians 5:22-23; “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.” These are not gifts to be hoarded by us, rather as Christians it is our responsibility to demonstrate these gifts in our everyday lives as well as use words to tell others about them.
As Christians, choosing our words is important. Saying things in a way that God wants us to requires some input from Him. We need to ask the Holy Spirit to become that filter in all we say and so gain self-control providing us with a solid spiritual foundation. Sometimes people say, ‘but that’s the truth’ usually when they are harsh and confrontational. Asking the Holy Spirit to build up our kindness, gentleness and forbearance can have a big impact on the way we tell someone the ‘truth’.
Speaking to people kindly and gently may be considered by some as a weakness However, the self-control this requires reveals our relationship with God and ultimately how we care about our friends, family and neighbours.
During World War II there was a common phrase “Careless talk costs lives.” Our words, even the smallest sentence can be used to help someone find Christ, unfortunately the reverse is also true.
By reading God’s word and walking in His ways we start to develop the gifts from the Holy Spirit. There will undoubtedly be times when we get it wrong, but if we keep praying for the development of the Spiritual gifts we will undoubtedly improve, and the gifts will begin to grow in our lives over time. The biblical term is abiding in Jesus’ presence.
As we abide with Jesus, the Holy Spirit begins to improve the way we speak and act. Eventually, our words can start to bring life and hope to the people around us who need it most.
This week please think about those people who need words of comfort, words of encouragement, words of hope and bring them that strength in Jesus’ name.