The Tongue

The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. (Proverbs 12:28 NIV)

Oh, how very true; it’s those thoughtless, unkind words that leap from our lips!

The trouble isn’t fundamentally with the tongue; it’s with the heart. Words are only the conveyance in which the quality of the heart goes forth to other people.

Someone has said there is an invisible stream of soul quality that flows through our words, and there’s no way under the sun to change that quality except to change the spirit from which the words flow. There must be a change of heart.

Christ is the only true source of all love, kindness, and sweetness. If you have wounded any heart today, take this to heart and pray about it. Ask Him to come in and fill you with His Spirit.

As He takes possession of your whole life, He takes possession of your tongue, and His words will abide in you. Then the bitter, sharp, critical spirit is gone. It’s the indwelling Christ that will then speak through you, and your words will be as the apostle said, words “seasoned with salt.”—VBB [1]

God has given us two ears, but one tongue, to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak. God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips, to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue.—Thomas Watson

[1] "The Uncontrolled Tongue" Anchor, October 25, 2018.