Liz’s Morning Devotional: Scripture selected from Upper Room
August 7, 2024
Matthew 12:33-37
33 “Either consider the tree good and its fruit good, or consider the tree rotten and its fruit rotten. A tree is known by its fruit. 34 Children of snakes! How can you speak good things while you are evil? What fills the heart comes out of the mouth. 35 Good people bring out good things from their good treasure. But evil people bring out evil things from their evil treasure. 36 I tell you that people will have to answer on Judgment Day for every useless word they speak. 37 By your words you will be either judged innocent or condemned as guilty.”
Good Morning! Stand up and bless the Lord!
What fills the heart comes out of the mouth!
Oh, what tangled webs we weave, when first we practice to deceive!
The words we speak can uplift others if they are rooted in goodness. Likewise, the words we speak can destroy others if they are rooted in evil.
Leaders from all time have the ability to use words to execute their power. There are so many sad, awful stories of people who are led astray by the charismatic words of one rooted in evil. I can’t help but think of the poor, innocent lambs who were slaughtered in the Jonestown Massacre. We can’t imagine anyone falling for such a scam, but 900 souls were lost that day. The power of words is immense.
On the flip side are the words that inspire others to do the unimaginable for good. Think of those speeches that have ignited others to overcome obstacles. MLK’s I Have a Dream and JFK’s Inaugural Address come to mind, but we mustn’t overlook those more “ordinary” inspirational speeches in our lives delivered by teachers, parents, and coaches that help us face the challenges we are facing.
When we are filled with doubt and fear, the Bible provides many words of encouragement. Psalm 27:1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?
Matthew 19:26 Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”
Revelation 21:4 He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Faithful God, Thank you for creating us. Help us use our words to build others up. Thank you! In Jesus’ name, we pray. Amen
Thought for the day: Jesus can soften our hearts and our words.
Use your words for goodness! Pastor Liz
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