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The Voice in Speech and Song
every fellow being. Every such an one is no longer in darkness; for
his “darkness” is “as the noon day.”—
The S.D.A. Bible Commentary
4:1151
.
Sympathy for Others, Not for Self—The lives of some are with-
out peace or gladness because they never get out of the range of self.
They are ever reaching out for sympathy from others. If they would go
to work to see how helpful they could be, and would speak words of
love and courage, their souls, now dry and sorrowful, would become
like a watered garden.—
Sons and Daughters of God, 88
.
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Passionate Words—One passionate word will give Satan the ad-
vantage and often wound your own soul and turn others away from the
light.—
The Review and Herald, May 3, 1887
.
Anger as Intoxication—When one once gives place to an angry
spirit, he is just as much intoxicated as the man who has put the glass
to his lips. Learn the eloquence of silence and know that God respects
the purchase of the blood of Christ. Educate yourselves; we must learn
every day. We must come up higher and higher and closer to God.
Clear the rubbish away from the King’s highway. Make a way that the
King may walk in our midst. Put away filthy communications out of
your mouth (see
Colossians 3:8
).—
Mind, Character, and Personality
2:582
.
Vehemence a Self-Inflicted Wound—Severe tests will come to
you. Put your trust in the Lord Jesus Christ. Remember that by vehe-
mence you will wound yourself. If under all circumstances you will
sit in heavenly places in Christ, your words will not be charged with
bullets that wound hearts and that may destroy life.—
Mind, Character,
and Personality 2:578
.
Idle and Evil Words—Closely connected with Christ’s warning
in regard to the sin against the Holy Spirit is a warning against idle
and evil words. The words are an indication of that which is in the
heart. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.” But the
words are more than an indication of character; they have power to
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react on the character. Men are influenced by their own words. Often
under a momentary impulse, prompted by Satan, they give utterance
to jealousy or evil surmising, expressing that which they do not really
believe; but the expression reacts on the thoughts. They are deceived
by their words, and come to believe that true which was spoken at
Satan’s instigation. Having once expressed an opinion or decision,