I guess not, if you don’t care what happens in your life.

First, I’d like to lay out the basis for the argument that our words DO matter. Jesus said they matter and that we would be judged for every idle word we speak. I do not think that was just an ‘idle” threat. (te he!) Matthew 12:36 There are various interpretations about what constitutes “idle” words, but for now, I am not going to discuss that.

The book of Hebrews talks about the “powers of the age to come.” The words we speak is an area where we can experience some of those powers, if we will quit living in the flesh so much and walk in the spirit.

In Genesis 1, the omniscient, everlasting God formed the worlds and everything in it by speaking words. Let there be light, let the earth bring forth animals, let the sea bring forth living creatures, etc. He spoke to the substance what He wanted to come forth, animals, plants, sea creatures, the firmament and more. Then think about the fact that the bible says we humans are made in God’s image. He is spirit. We are spirit, but need a body to live on the earth. This puts us in the same spirit class as God, which means….our words have power too. Just following this one line of reasoning can lead to this conclusion if anyone dares to go there. But plenty of other scriptures confirm the same conclusion and we will explore those also, from both the old and new Testaments.

The most prominent scripture related to this topic in the Old Testament is Proverbs 18:21. From the Amplified Bible: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and they who indulge in it shall eat the fruit of it for death or life.” This says to me that the tongue has the power of death or life, and whichever way you use it, there are consequences for good or for bad.

In the New Testament, James 3:6 in the NKJV says: And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell.” This passage speaks of the words we use, but the part that catches my attention is that it “sets on fire the course of nature.” This phrase speaks to me that my words are related to the course of my life. There can be no other meaning.

This is what the bible says, folks. You can poo-poo it and say, oh that’s figurative, that doesn’t mean that. Or…you can believe that God does mean what He says!

Just by way of confirmation (at least it was to me), I came across these verses. I believe they absolutely relate to what I just shared. Psalm 78:19-22 NKJV   Yes, they SPOKE against God: They SAID (emphasis by the author), “Can God prepare a table in the wilderness? [20] Behold, He struck the rock, So that the waters gushed out, And the streams overflowed. Can He give bread also? Can He provide meat for His people?” [21] Therefore the LORD heard this and was furious; So a fire was kindled against Jacob, And anger also came up against Israel, [22] Because they did not believe in God, And did not trust in His salvation.”

But you decide. Ask God to show you if these things are true.

I leave you with this: Hebrews 4:2, speaking of the first generation Israelites who left Egypt…”For indeed the gospel was preached to us as well as to them; but the word which they heard did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in those who heard it.” This is the group that didn’t take God seriously, and so they died in the wilderness and did not attain what God had for them.

Please don’t misunderstand me…God gives us MUCH grace in these times for our failures and ignorance and blindness, but we ARE in school, we WILL have tests, and in the end, we DO get graded!!! Pay attention in class! (Not about salvation, but about our service to Him) Love Him, follow Him, lean on Him. Jesus loves you. He DIED for you. He will help you do everything He asks of you. May you all be found blameless at His coming and receive the highest commendation….Well done, thou good and faithful servant.