MATTHEW 12:33-37 – “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad, for the tree is known by its fruit. You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. The good person out of his good treasure brings forth good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure brings forth evil. I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”

THEME OF THE DAY: THINK LONG AND HARD BEFORE WE SPEAK. Today’s scripture is one of those “cold splashes of water in your face” early in the morning. It jolts us. It awakens us. It stops us in our tracks. It should cause us to ponder the seriousness of what our Lord is warning, and to do so regularly, like even daily; like even throughout each day. And the way Jesus tells it puts much weight or gravity upon it. He says, “I tell, you on the day of judgment people will give account of every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” Think about it for a minute . . . people (us, every one of us) will give account of every careless word they speak. Not some of our words, but all our words, and that in every conversation throughout all of life. If we ever needed a great reason to throw ourselves upon the grace and mercy of God, here it is! So, let’s take the theme of today’s nugget and make a couple of applications.

First, think long and hard before we speak because there is no such thing as a private conversation. When we talk about another person in the privacy of our homes with a spouse or outside with one other person, we are not alone. Ever. The writer of Hebrews tells us, “And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account” (Hebrews 4:13). Always remember the Lord is present in every conversation.

Also, think long and hard before we speak because what we say will either be of great good to a person or bring significant damage. And this applies especially in heated conversations when emotions want to take control of our tongues. King Solomon warns of the hurt caused by a rash tongue – There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing (Proverbs 12:18). Don’t be “stabbing the heart” of a person with rash words. The wound may be so deep, a relationship may never be recovered. And here is a good word from Charles Spurgeon to heed before we want to say a word – “Don’t let your tongue outrun your brain.”

So, every word, every conversation will someday be heard again at the Judgment Seat. Think long and hard before we speak, and then pray, “Lord, let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).

PRAYER: “Father, forgive me for the too many times I put my tongue ahead of my brain.”
QUOTE: “An uncontrolled tongue comes from a heart lacking the Holy Spirit’s control.”

Because of Him,
Pastor Jim