Measure Your Words

January 30

We can be quite glib about the things we say. But there was a time when a person carefully formulated a thought in his head before uttering it in front of an audience. Now, whether we are discoursing with just one other person or standing before a crowd, we think nothing of delivering an impromptu message.

We don’t measure the weight of words the way we once did. Perhaps that is because there has been so much innovation due to our technological and medical advancements that words must be added to our lexicon at an extremely rapid pace—too rapid a pace for a user of the language to ‘keep up’!

But Matthew 12:37 says something that puts the matter of off-handed remarks in a far weightier perspective. Here it says, “By your words you will be acquitted and by your words you will be condemned.” Acquitted: to be declared free from an accusation. Condemned: to be declared guilty as charged. The words we speak take on immeasurable gravitas when thought of in this way.

Our words, particularly the words we speak about Christ, will acquit us as believers who are covered in the blood of Heaven’s sacrificed Lamb that washes us clean of all sin or will condemn us as doubters who negated the finished work of God our Savior. We must measure our words carefully, for they flow from our hearts and declare our relationship with the Savior. Declare your faith in Him!