Often times we as Christians fail to realize just how important our words are. The words that come from our mouths, our hearts. People are watching us, wondering what makes us different. Do our actions point them to Jesus?   Would Jesus be proud of us, or embarrassed & hurt by the things we say? Am I hitting a sensitive spot on your conscience yet? ‘Cause I know it’s tugging on mine…..

Jesus never said we had to be perfect. But we do have to be careful. Very careful. We carry His name everywhere we go. CHRIST-ian. CHRIST-like. We must wear it well. Because someone’s eternity may depend upon what they see in us. To them, we are “Jesus with skin on”. Jesus warns us about being a stumbling block to others (Luke 17:1-2). If He chose to address that subject, it must have been pretty important to Him, don’t you think?

“As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Proverbs 23:7) Speaking ungodly things out loud doesn’t make it worse in the eyes of God. He already KNOWS your heart (Ps. 44:21), & all sin is the same in his eyes… disgusting! However, speaking those ungodly thing out loud makes them available for all to hear, doesn’t it? Therefore, we become a stumbling block to others, perhaps turning them away from Christ. What a tragedy. The apostle Paul said, “Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person.” (Col. 4:6) He reminds Timothy in 2 Tim.1:13 to “retain the standard of sound words you have heard from me.”

And what about swearing? Or using God’s name in vain.   When Moses came down off that mountain with the 10 Commandments, one of those commandments were “Thou Shalt Not Take the Name of the Lord thy God in Vain.” (Exodus 20:7) Many do not realize that the rest of that verse reads “for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh His name in vain.” You see, God’s name is above every other name. When we use it lightly, flippantly, or during times of anger, we are trampling on the highest, most important name that will ever exist. We are trampling upon the very God of creation, spitting in His face & telling Him that He means absolutely nothing to us. Surely there will be retribution for that, just as His word says.

Jesus speaks to His followers, & says: “You are the salt of the earth, but if the salt has become tasteless, how will it be made salty again? It is good for nothing anymore, except to be thrown out and trampled under foot by men.” (Matthew 5:13) It is a very dangerous thing, my friend, when you & I take the power of the tongue and use it for anything other than good, to bless, or to praise. We will become useless, good for nothing anymore, in the sight of God.

One of my friends whom I sing with has a favorite verse: “Let the words of my mouth & the meditations of my heart be pleasing to You, oh God.” (Psalm 19:14) It isn’t an easy thing to do in this ol’ sin-riddled world we live in. But it’s possible. With God, it’s possible.

I am persuaded that man’s word is a reflection of himself. People will only know you by how you speak. I don’t know about you, but I want to be known as a godly person, full of grace & mercy, pleasing to God, & easily recognized by others as a Christian, someone who’s different. I want people to look at me & say, “I want what they have.”

Let’s live out a pleasing testimony concerning our language, concerning our life. Let’s wear the name of Jesus well. Agreed?

Heather