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OUR WORDS

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Pacific Press Publishing Company · Oakland, California · Mar 13, 1901

FromSigns of the Times, Vol. 27, No. 11.

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OUR WORDS.

By C. H. Blake

BUT as He which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.” 1 Peter 1:15. Before we can attain to that standard of perfection to which God would have us, our words must be pure and elevating,—words chosen of God.
Our words have a deep and wide influence; they make an impression on the mind either for good or for evil, and this impression is not always easily erased. Our constant prayer should be, “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my Strength, and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:14.
We should be living in a condition to receive the Spirit of God, and when we are thoroly imbued with that Spirit, our hearts will be pure and our words must consequently be pure; “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” Matt. 12:34.
We should not allow a satanic spirit to enter our conversation; for it is then the tongue pierces as a sword. Words spoken in such a spirit mar the soul, and have an influence for evil, and are often the means of stirring up strife; but kind words have the opposite effect.
It would be very unbecoming for a professed Christian to use corrupt language. James tells us, “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, . . . this man’s religion is vain.” James 1:26. We need wisdom in order that we may know what to speak. This wisdom we do not possess of ourselves, but we must apply to God, the Source of all wisdom, to obtain it. “If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.” James 1:5, 6.
Our every word, our every thought and act, must be wrought in God. Where we have God dwelling in us, our every word and thought will be love; for God is love. As love is the life of God, and life is power, the love of God must be the power of God, and thru the power of God we are able to do all things. We should be very careful in our every word; for “every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Matt. 12:36, 37. C. H. BLAKE.
Onawa, Iowa.