Every Word Matters

Deuteronomy 6: 4-9 says:

“Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God, the Lord is one. You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates".

Which of your words matter most to The Lord?

Is it the ones you speak to your children or to young people? After all, they are so easily influenced so we need to be so wise with what we say to them.

Is it the ones you say to your partner? After all, they are meant to be your other half and cherished by you.

Is it the ones you speak from the pulpit? After all, some of the congregation will be hanging on your every word and assuming what you are saying is all from The Lord God Almighty (though we know that sadly that is never entirely true for any preacher due to our fallen nature and tragically, totally not true for some!)

Our Scripture above reveals that EVERY WORD THAT WE SPEAK MATTERS!

In fact, even every word we welcome into our minds matters!

We should live authentic lives where we always aim for our behaviours to mirror our words and regularly ask for The Lord's help with this. Otherwise, what is the point?! Our words are empty and meaningless when we do not try to live the way we say that we should.

Of course, the best way (and therefore only way) to live is the way that The Lord God Almighty says to live so we need to know His teachings deeply and love Him deeply so that we truly want to follow His ways.

Imagine living your life constantly in front of a microphone. Everywhere you go, your words are amplified. Every word you say will be heard by many. Would this change the way you speak and what you say?

Whether we are talking to our families at the breakfast table, chatting to a stranger at a bus station, preaching a sermon or vocalising our thoughts in any other way, how marvellous is it that it can all be a mini-sermon and how challenging that the above Scripture reveals that a mini-sermon is exactly what it all should be.

Please note that by 'mini' I mean short NOT insignificant because all of our words matter.

Whether we are a preacher or not, we need to be slow to speak, quick to listen and prayerful and careful with all that we say all of the time. Not living in fear but living in wisdom, recognising that The Lord can use just one word we say to a family member at the breakfast table, a stranger at the bus stop etc. to change a life or even to save a life! Remember that The Lord is with you all of the time and out of His great love is more than happy to help you with all of this if you would just ask Him and remember, EVERY WORD MATTERS!

God bless you

Pastor Steve Brunton