Mouth filters
We need to learn to live with others in harmony since social interaction is impossible to ignore.
Since we won’t get along perfectly with everyone (Romans 12:18), we must choose what to say rather than spitting out every thought that enters our minds. God will deal with our thoughts but no one else has to know all of them (1 Corinthians 3:20).
“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Colossians 4:6, NKJV).
Filters take out the impurities in our water and serve an endless variety of purposes in our world. We must develop mouth filters for life so we’ll be less likely to hurt others with our words
Poor speech decisions can lead to all manner of complications and destruction. Being intentionally provocative is often a sign of immaturity, character weakness and possibly cruelty.
How can we fine-tune these filters? We develop our spiritual maturity and build empathy and compassion.
Christians must develop good social skills if we wish to be obedient to God. We are commanded to be lights to the world (Matthew 5:14-15) and to share the gospel with the world (Matthew 28:18-20). Therefore, our mouth must be in tune with our spiritual purpose.
We should taste our words before we speak them and hone the skill of discretion so our words can be trusted. Even truth, spoken with anger, is dangerous to God’s plan (Ephesians 4:15).
If we see people as souls rather than faults, we will be less likely to hurl verbal arrows at them.
“Therefore, whatever you want men to do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets” (Matthew 7:12).
We must stop having one rule for ourselves and another for everyone else. It’s imperative that as Christians we set aside our fleshly impulses and think bigger.
- Are our harsh words worth a soul?
- Do we have to fix everyone immediately?
- Do we not also make mistakes and have weaknesses?
Hearts are fragile and words are dangerous. We must set our filters on spiritual so we glorify God, not Satan. The wisdom of Scripture is available to all because the tongue is an unruly evil (James 3:1-8).
Take the warnings seriously, please.