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Our Family Way #7
We encourage one another, using only words that build up and bless others.
Memory Verse Ephesians 4:29
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in the right circumstances.
Proverbs 25:11
No matter how you picture a gold apple as mentioned in this scripture, you would probably think to find an apple gilded in gold and wrapped in silver something almost shocking—extravagant in worth, delightful, an over-the-top elegant display of a fruit so commonly loved.
That is the magnitude of words spoken at just the right time—of great worth, something that stands out and sparkles, reflects light, gives a sense of beauty and design. So, if we really think about our words and how to aim them at the heart of others, we can have that valuable an impact. Solomon is saying that such words aimed at the heart at the right time with grace will have immense effect. Don’t underestimate the value of learning to speak in a loving, encouraging, gracious way. I have been thinking about the importance of words lately: they bring life or death.
Jesus was called the Word or “the Message,” and His life brought hope and redemption and truth and guidance, blessing all who understood his message with grace and eternal worth..
I have met so many young 20-somethings in the past few years who have scars from their parents. Mainly, I have heard stories of parents who never encouraged or had time to listen or believe in dreams or sympathize. "My parents never listened to me. They never understood me. They were always angry at me," is often what I hear. Sometimes their memories are of sentences like these …
“I wish you had never been born,”
“You are such a disappointment to me.”
“I hate you.”
“You are so dumb.”
“You embarrass me.”
These words are like knives that cut deeply to the inside of a heart and leave ugly scars on those who have heard them over and over again.
But if we were to look at the Word, Jesus himself, we would see intentional encouragement. "Peter, you are the rock. Thomas, a man in whom there is no guile. The centurion--no one has had faith like you. Mary, your story will be told about you for all times." Jesus always took time to show love, to initiate words of life--even to believe in Peter and encourage him as he was about to rebel against him. “Peter, Satan has desired to sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you..."
It is almost as detrimental to withhold words as to say angry words.
“I never remember my father saying anything kind about me in my whole life.”
“I don’t remember my mother ever saying she loved me. When I told her I loved her when I was 27, she said, ‘I do, too.’” That was the extend of her love verbalized. I always wanted to know if I was worth being loved.”
A word held back could keep a person from hope, faith, affirmation, a sense of worth. We also know that negative words build a wall that can separate friends.
And so words have power and influence over who and what a human being becomes. That is why we must deeply consider how to invest words of love, hope, truth, encouragement, and practice saying them regularly. It is also why we must teach our children to ponder what words of life are and how to give them to others, as though we were giving them apples of gold.
May the Lord bless you with creative ideas on ways you can speak life to your loved ones this week!
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