Welcome to our home bible fellowship in Raleigh. God bless you.
Words hold incredible power—they can either build up or tear down. As Proverbs 18:21 reminds us, "Death and life are in the power of the tongue." In our daily interactions, we have the choice to bring life and peace to others through what we say. By pausing before we speak and actively pursuing peace, we can use our words to positively impact the lives of those around us.
Two Practical Ways
With our words, we have the power to bring life and peace to others. Here are two practical ways to help us accomplish this:
we can pause before we speak, and
we can aim for and pursue peace as we speak.
Pause
Pause means a temporary stop or rest. Maybe you have stopped yourself at one time because of uncertainty, for example.
Here are two verses that help us to pause before we speak:
Proverbs 29:20: Seest thou a man that is hasty in his words? There is more hope of a fool than of him.
James 1:19: Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak….
By pausing before we speak, we can consciously decide to speak words that bring life and peace and refrain from speaking words that don’t do that. Some situations we encounter are more complicated than others. Especially in these situations, it is important to be slow to speak, not hasty in our words.
Casting Stones
We see Jesus Christ operating this principle (swift to hear, slow to speak) in a very challenging situation (a situation between life and death). In the record of John 8, the scribes and Pharisees asked Jesus a question with the goal of tempting him in order to condemn him. Jesus’ response would directly affect the life of a woman brought before him, who had been accused by men of committing adultery.
John 8:1-13:
Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
And early in the morning he came again into the temple court, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst. (They made her stand in the center of the court. They put her on trial!)
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou? (So what do you say to do with her—what is your sentence?”)
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not. (He paused.)
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground. (He paused again.)
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience (the inner sense of what is right or wrong) went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst. (The old religious men, men in authority, left first. They were the least innocent.)
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, "Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?"
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, "Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more."
Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life."
In this passage, we see Jesus repeatedly pausing before responding to the accusers. His pauses represent moments of reflection rather than impulsive reaction. When confronted with difficult situations or moral dilemmas, this teaches us the importance of pausing, thinking carefully, and avoiding hasty judgment. Quick reactions can lead to harsh words or actions, but taking time to reflect can lead to a more thoughtful and just response.
When Jesus said, "He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone," He invited the accusers to reflect on their own lives and faults. This lesson calls us to look inward before we criticize or condemn others. None of us are without fault, and this awareness can foster humility and compassion for others.
Jesus’ treatment of the woman emphasizes the importance of forgiveness and grace. Rather than condemning her for her actions, He offers her a path forward: "Go, and sin no more." This teaches us that, rather than holding others to their past mistakes, we should offer forgiveness and encourage growth and change. Grace does not ignore wrongdoing but provides the opportunity for redemption and new beginnings.
The scribes and Pharisees were more interested in following the letter of the law than in understanding the situation with compassion. Jesus, however, demonstrated that compassion is more important than strict legalism. This teaches us to consider the broader impact of our judgments and decisions, prioritizing love and empathy over rigid rules.
At the end of the passage, Jesus reminds the people, "I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life." This reminds us that we are called to be a source of light and goodness, not judgment and condemnation. By following Jesus’ example of mercy and understanding, we reflect His light in our interactions with others.
Let the Word Dwell Within You
In Colossians 3:16, it says, "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom." The word here can refer to the lessons learned from certain situations, such as the one in John 8 with Jesus and the woman. Let that word (that story, those words of Jesus Christ, that life lesson, let that) dwell in your heart and mind. Let it permeate every aspect of your being, as you learn and share spiritual life lessons. And be sure to admonish (counsel or advise) and train one another with all spiritual wisdom. That's what Colossians says. That's what the word says. That's our standard.
Our Standard
Keeping God’s Word as our standard, we have a great resource to help communicate words that can lift a burden, lighten a heart, and bring life and peace. When the Word dwells richly in our hearts—when we are reading and thinking it consistently—it is easier to pause, and to bring those edifying words of life and peace to our minds, and then speak them to others.
Follow After Peace
Another practical way we can help assure that our words will bring life and peace to others is to follow after peace. Aim for and pursue peace.
In Romans 14:19, it says, "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another." The Greek word translated “follow after” means to pursue. That is an active word! It reminds me of our Constitution’s preamble, which says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men AND WOMEN are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”
As we make up our minds to actively pursue what makes for peace and rest and harmony, our words will reflect this. We frame our communications with the aim of bringing life and peace.
How We Say Things
One way we can actively pursue peace in our speech is by watching how we say things, not just what we say. When our body language and tone reflect peace, others are more likely to be peaceful also. Pursuing peace gives us a head start in speaking words that bring life and peace to others.
Summary
We have learned that the words we speak are powerful. Our words can bring life and peace as we choose to base our communications on a standard—God’s Word. As we allow the Word of God to dwell in us richly, we can pause and bring His words of life and peace to our minds and mouths—especially in challenging situations. As we aim for and pursue peace, our communications will reflect the truth of God’s Word in our hearts. We will see that our words do have power to bring life and peace to others.
- Benjamin
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