City Life Starter

Written By Megan Meier

The Word

“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” Ephesians 4:29-30 NKJV

“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” Proverbs 4:23 NIV

“May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14 NIV

Reflection

When you were growing up, did you ever have your mouth washed out with soap? It’s absolutely gross, and the aftertaste stays with you for at least thirty minutes. After my mother did it to me, I thought twice before saying a bad word or telling a lie, for lesser offenses she warned, “Watch your mouth!” (Shout out to Mom, thank you for loving me enough to discipline me when I said bad things!).

Paul doesn’t just refer to cussing and lying when he instructs not to speak corrupt words, he did not want any vulgar, dishonest, or unkind words to exit the mouths of the Christ-followers. The early Christian Church was still in its early phases with many lines between believers, dissension would have been too easy, one word said in anger, one bit of gossip (especially gossip disguised as a prayer request), could make the local church fall. Paul told them to instead speak positively, to use their words to build and cheer others up, to encourage and inspire.  

Anything that isn’t agreeable with the purity of the church is antagonistic to the Holy Spirit. We are marked as God’s family and He is preparing us for perfection, one of those factors is to be careful what comes out of our mouths. 

Application

To change your words, change your thoughts. An extended version of Proverbs 4:23 is a quote by Lao Tzu, “Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny.” Or as Mama Meier would say, “Watch your mouth!”

Prayer

            Dear Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to You. In Jesus Name I pray, amen.