The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit. Proverbs 18:21 (NIV)
Have you ever reached the bottom of an apple bag to discover that the last apple is mushy and brown? Or it could show signs of mold or smells. It’s likely that you toss it in the rubbish or compost bin instead of eating it. You don't want to put something bad in your stomach knowingly.
In the previous verse, the author writes, “From the fruit of their mouth a person’s stomach is filled; with the harvest of their lips they are satisfied.” If we consider the stomach a metaphor for the soul, we should take this wisdom even more seriously. Sin is like bad fruit; it is moldy and smells, yet we sometimes knowingly try to feed it to our souls and others.
Just as a bruised or spoiled apple can harm our physical health, harmful words and negative speech can damage our spiritual well-being. The tongue's power lies not only in the immediate effect of our words but also in the lasting impression they leave on our souls and the souls of others. When we speak words of kindness, encouragement, and truth, we nurture our spiritual health and that of those around us. Conversely, when we engage in gossip, lies, or hurtful speech, we spread the "bad fruit" that ultimately harms us and others.
Jesus emphasized this connection between our speech and our souls when He said, "A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For the mouth speaks what the heart is full of." (Luke 6:45, NIV)
What might the author of Proverbs be saying? Toss out the bad fruit! Don’t ingest it or feed it to others. Instead, let us be mindful in choosing our words; may we strive to produce a harvest of good fruit that nourishes our souls and brings life to those who hear it. Let our tongues be instruments of peace and love, bearing fruit that reflects the goodness within us.
Heavenly Father,
We come before You with grateful hearts, acknowledging the power and impact of our words. We thank You for the wisdom in Proverbs 18:20-21, reminding us that our tongues hold the power of life and death.
Help us, Lord, to be mindful of the words we speak. May we produce a harvest of good fruit that nourishes our souls and brings life to those who hear it. Guide us to use our tongues as instruments of peace and love, reflecting the goodness and grace You have bestowed upon us.
Forgive us for the times we have spoken words that hurt or destroy. Cleanse our hearts from sin and mold us into vessels of Your love and truth. Let our speech be a beacon of Your light in this world, uplifting and encouraging those around us.
In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.
Blessings,
Pastor Tim
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