February 16, 2021

Bob Maas
"When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise."
Proverbs 10:19
"But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned."
Matthew 12:36-37

I confess that there are many times that the words I speak serve no purpose other than to satisfy my ego. When I hear things that I don’t agree with, something compels me to express my opinion, whether or not I have a complete understanding of the subject. There is really no reason for me to comment on most things I hear. I know that I need to be quiet and still but the temptation to hastily assert my viewpoint is always present. Too often I find myself speaking without giving much thought to what the other person is saying. I’m grateful that the Lord is progressively teaching me to be more vigilant on those occasions when I have the opportunity to make unnecessary judgements. I pray that, by His grace, I will give diligent attention to the words that other people speak and wait for questions regarding my opinion or understanding of a subject.