Christian Speech

Speech

1.  There is a time to speak and a time to be silent – Eccl. 3:7. 

2.  Power of life and death is in the tongueπ – Prov. 18:21.

3.  A person speaks from the abundance of the heart – Matt. 12:34.

4.  He who keeps his mouth keeps his soul – Prov. 21:23.

5.  Pleasant words are as a honeycomb, sweet to the soul– Prov. 16:24.

6.  Moses couldn’t enter Canaan because he spoke unadvisedly – Ps. 106:33.

7.  The things which proceed out of the mouth defile man – Matt. 15: 18.

8.  People shall give account of every idle word – Matt. 12:36.

9.  By his words a person is justified or condemned – Matt.12:37.

So Christian’s Speech Must Be:

1.  Words of truth and soberness – Acts 26:25; Eph. 4:25.

2.  Good words which will build people up – Eph. 4:29.

3.  Words to strengthen those who are faint in heart – 1 Thess. 5:14.

4.  Words which comfort those in sorrow – 1 Thess. 4:18.

5.  Words of grace, opportunely spoken – Col. 4:6.

6.  Sound speech which cannot be condemned – Prov. 12 :18;  Titus 2:8.

7.  Giving of thanks Eph. 5:4; James 3:9.

8.  Without murmurings or disputings – Phil. 2:14.

9.  With meekness and fear – 1 Pet. 3:15.

11.  As an example to the believers – 1 Tim. 4 :12.

The Good Life 1 Pet. 3:10-11

Peter quotes Ps. 34 in his instructions on how to conduct live so that you will be pleasing to God and so you will can enjoy the best life here on earth. Peter states, “Let him who means to love life and see good days refrain his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking guile. And let him turn away from evil and do good;  let him seek peace and pursue it.”

There are three instructions to those who wish to “love life and see good days.” Men have always sought a life on earth. God wants us to have a good life here on the earth. God did not create us to come here and suffer. He intended for this earth to be a good place to live. (Rf. Gen. 1:31)

To have this, first instruction is to control the tongue.  James calls the tongue is a fire, hard to control (Jas. 3:3-8).  As Proverbs notes that the tongue can quickly get us in or out of trouble, Prov. 15:1, “A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” 

Second, to turn from evil and do good. The good man will not be troubled as the evil one is. The evil man must always be worried about being caught in his lies and deceptions and watching out for the retaliations of and recriminations from those whom he has harmed.“‘There is no peace,’ says my God, ‘for the wicked,’” (Isa. 57:20,21).   

Third, “seek peace and pursue it.” Peace with your neighbors is paramount to a good life.  This peace is to be sought and pursued, it is to be hunted for and actively looked for.  It is not an easy thing to find or maintain in a world full of malice, envy, strife, and murders. But we, as Christians, are to pursue it though prayers (1 Tim. 2:1-3), and reconciliation (Matt. 5:23-25).