words

As one who “makes my living with words” (teaching, preaching, writing, advising) I end up thinking a lot about words and their power. Proverbs 18:21 says “The tongue has the power of life and death.” Ephesians 4:29 says: “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.” When God “began it all” He spoke, used words into the emptiness that begat creation. When He determined how to introduce His Son through His servant John He breathed: “In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and was God...The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:1, 14)

Over the years I’ve regretted many of the words I’ve spoken. Sometimes no sooner than they left my lips other times I’ve eaten the bitter fruit of words spoken months or years before. It’s rare that I speak words knowing they will harm or damage another - that’s just not typically me - I said rare, not never. Typically my problem is thinking the words will communicate one thing and another message is taken from them. Or thinking I’ll get a point across and selecting my words poorly. Nonetheless, I offend in words, with my tongue, so I am not a perfect (completely mature) man, as James would let me know if he ever heard me (James 3:2). When I’ve hurt others with my words, I always feel it deeply and try to repent quickly of it. But it is often that I do not know who I’ve hurt or how and don’t have the chance to correct it.
Yet there are those times when I have KNOWN my words did harm and that is sinful. I want to tell you though that while there are words I have spoken and regretted there are many more I have spoken and never regretted. Here are some of those words:
- I love you.
- Thank you.
- I’m sorry.
- You are special to me and to God.
- You’ve been a blessing.
- Can I do anything for you.
So, what are your best words? What are the words you’ve never regretted sharing with another?

What words do you need to speak TODAY? What should you say to someone today that if it was your last chance and you didn’t you’d regret it tomorrow?