Spiritual guidance powered by AI and grounded in Scripture
Your Question:
Can our words have the power to uplift or tear down?
Answer:
As a pastor and a husband, I've come to realize that words have the power to uplift or tear down. The Bible teaches us that speech has great power for both good and harm. In Proverbs 18:21, it says that words can bring life and cause death. This is a sobering reminder that our words can either build up or tear down. As Susan, my wife, often reminds me, words spoken with malice can cut deeply, and words destroy, pummel, and build walls. The Bible encourages us to choose our words carefully. In the book of Proverbs, it says that we should sow words like seeds to bring a harvest of fruit that blesses God. This means that our words should be chosen as if they were instruments of life or death. I believe that this is a powerful reminder of the responsibility that comes with speaking. As a parent, I've seen how my words can either encourage or discourage my children, Joshua and Rebecca. As a pastor, I've seen how words can bring comfort or condemnation to those who are seeking guidance. The power of words is not limited to humans, however. The Bible teaches us that God's Word is not weak but has divine power accompanying it. In Isaiah 55:11, it says that God's Word will not return empty but will accomplish what He purposes. This reminds me that our words should be spoken with the authority and power of God. As I reflect on this, I'm reminded of the importance of speaking words that build up and encourage others, rather than tearing them down.
Sources:
sacred marriage
gary thomas
proverbs
lindsay wilson
systematic theology
wayne grudem
christian theology
millard erickson
history eschatology
n t wright
introduction to new testament
carson and moo
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