“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.” Ephesians 4:29………………..
“A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.” Luke 6:45
One of my Dad’s “affectionate” nicknames for me as a young person was this. “The mouth.” It may not have been the most affectionate nickname, though it was ordinarily spoken in jest, but it was undoubtedly and entirely accurate. I had gone from being a totally shy little girl to having far too much to say, and it wasn’t always so very good. Things only got worse over time. I had more and more to say, and more and more of it was corrupt as I knew nothing of the Lord and lived my life following my flesh and the world with an ever desire to satisfy myself. Times have changed, and though I still have plenty to say, today I have a rock solid relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and I am ever aspiring for my heart, and my words, both written and spoken, to be glorifying to God and to be used to help build and encourage His forever Kingdom of followers. Nevertheless, I still struggle, day by day, in an ever battle of the devil wanting me to be his mouthpiece, of my flesh wanting to spew forth nonsense and garbage and wrongness, and on the other end the Lord, by His Spirit, through His Word, wanting to use my mouth to bring glory to His name and to proclaim Him to the world and help build His Kingdom.
Our mouths bring forth what is in our hearts, and we need to be filled with God’s Spirit, and our hearts need to be filled with God’s love, with His Truth according to His Word, with His kindness and patience, His mercy and compassion, with His grace and comfort, with His mercy and encouragement, etc., so that our words do the same, so that words praise and proclaim Him, blessing the world all around with His goodness. Our hearts, and words, should be edifying, ever building up rather than tearing down, lifting up, inspiring and helping people to believe in and love and follow Jesus. Ever worshiping God, ever looking to the Lord and encouraging others to do the same.
Our mouths speak what is in our hearts, so it is imperative we are ever bringing our hearts before Him, ever repenting of what we have allowed in our hearts that is ungodly, and ever being filled with more of His Spirit, with more of His Word, with more of His love and power, that what comes from our mouths is pleasing to Him and blessedly pours out His love and grace and the Truth of His Word onto the world all around us.
May our hearts, and our words, and our very lives be filled to overflowing with Christ’s goodness and grace, with God’s blessedness, and may we right down to our thoughts and words bring praise and honor and glory to God almighty through Christ Jesus who is Lord forevermore!