Basic HTML Version
Speech a Precious Talent, October 12
By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be
condemned.
Matthew 12:37
.
God has given every youth the talent of speech to be improved for
Him. This is a most important trust.... Let your words be life-giving,
pointing those around you to the Saviour. Let them bring sunshine instead
of gloom, harmony instead of animosity. Say nothing that you would not
be willing to say in the presence of Jesus and the angels. Utter no word
that will stir up strife in another heart. However provoked you may feel,
restrain the hasty word. If you are Christlike in speech and action, those
who associate with you will be blessed by the association. Righteous
words and deeds have a more powerful influence for good than all the
sermons that can be preached.
Let us guard against speaking words that discourage. Let us resolve
never to engage in evilspeaking and backbiting. Let us refuse to serve
Satan by implanting seeds of doubt. Let us guard against cherishing
unbelief, or expressing it to others. Many, many times I have wished that
there might be circulated a pledge containing a solemn promise to speak
only those words that are pleasing to God. There is a great need for such
a pledge as there is for one against the use of intoxicating liquor. Let us
begin to discipline the tongue, remembering always that we can do this
only by disciplining the mind, for “out of the abundance of the heart the
mouth speaketh.”
Matthew 12:34
.
Through the help that Christ can give, we shall be able to learn to bridle
the tongue. Sorely as He was tried on the point of hasty and angry speech,
He never once sinned with His lips. With patient calmness He met the
sneers, the taunts, and the ridicule of His fellow workers at the carpenter’s
bench. Instead of retorting angrily, He would begin to sing one of David’s
beautiful psalms; and His companions, before realizing what they were
doing, would unite with Him in the hymn. What a transformation would
be wrought in this word if men and women today would follow Christ’s
example in the use of words!
[292]
303