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Influence of Our Words, May 11
And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord
Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
Colossians 3:17
.
Men are greatly under the influence of their own words. You are
not conscious how much you are affected by your words. You accustom
yourself to speak in a certain way, and your thoughts and actions follow
your words. One accustoms himself to assert certain things in regard to
himself, and at last he comes to believe them. Our thoughts produce our
words and our words react upon our thoughts. If a man forms the habit
of using sacred words reverently, he will form the custom of carefulness
of speech, knowing that there is a Witness to every word uttered. When
the feelings become excited and the speech is exaggerated, the mode of
speaking is always extreme. It acts and reacts upon ourselves.
The Word declares, “By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy
words thou shalt be condemned” (
Matthew 12:37
). If our words act upon
ourselves they act more powerfully upon others. There is great mischief
done by words spoken. God alone knows and measures the result of a
careless, exaggerated mode of speaking. There is much swearing done in
spirit....
You are reproducing your own character in others. You may express
many things that will create in other minds a course of thought which will
lead them into false paths. God may spare you to outlive your exasperated
feelings and come to have sensible thoughts. You may outlive your doubts,
and through repentance toward God and faith in Jesus Christ escape from
the snare of the fowler. You may pass into the sunshine of faith, but oh, you
may never be conscious ... that these words are doing their mischievous
work in the soil of the hearts of others, and poisoning it. Here is a harvest
some must reap....
Raise the standard for Christ Jesus and have all your words select, sea-
soned with salt. Cultivate true dignity.... Let your words feel the influence
of the converting power of God. Let wholesome words be spoken
[138]
13
Letter 124, 1893
.
140