Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14
Our words reveal our hearts. We can often put up a good front in the realm of behavior, but our words will sooner or later give away exactly what is happening in our hearts. That is why we need to invite the Holy Spirit, like the psalmist did. “Create in me a clean heart, O Lord”.
We are looking briefly at some of the hundreds of verses related to our words…asking some tough questions about our hearts, as revealed by our mouths:
–Are We Always Careful to Tell the Truth When We Speak?
“A man who bears false witness against his neighbor is a maul, and a sword, and a sharp arrow” (Proverbs 25:18).
“For out of the heart come forth evil thoughts…false witness, railings: these are the things which defile the man” (Matthew 15:19-20).
“There are six things which the Almighty hates, yes seven which are an abomination to Him: … a lying tongue…a false witness who utters lies” (Proverbs 6:16-19).
–Do we Interpret People In The Best Light?
“People with unsound and ungodly attitudes are puffed up…and that’s were envy, strife, railings, evil suspicion come from…” (1 Timothy 6:4).
[Examples of seeing others in the worst light: 1 Samuel 1:13-15; 17:28; 2 Samuel 10:3; 16:3; 19:25-27; Nehemiah 6:6-8; Acts 24:2,5.] Look at just one example: “And when the islanders saw the venomous creature hanging from hand, they said one to another, ‘No doubt this man is a murderer, whom, though he has escaped from the sea, yet Justice has not allowed to live’ (Acts 28:4). They were ignorantly accusing the Apostle Paul of murder.
–Do We Speak with Sensitivity, the Way We Would Have Others Speak of Us?
“For the whole law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Galatians 5:14).
“All things therefore whatsoever you would that men should do unto you, even so do also unto them, for this sums up the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
“Let not kindness and truth forsake you; bind them about your neck: write them upon the tablet of your heart” (Proverbs 3:3).