Use Your WordsEsimerkki

Use your words to heal “Shut your mouth; you are so disrespectful.” “Your tiny brain just can’t handle it.” “Come on, guys, let’s start boxing and punching him in the face.” “How old are you, kid? Where did you learn to speak in such a mewling, yet accusatory tone?” These are actual comments that I pulled off Facebook and Twitter the day I wrote this devotion. I bet you’ve read these words—or worse. And, if we’re honest, we’ve probably all said some of them (or something else hurtful) at some point too. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me is simply a lie. Words do hurt. Today, children and adults carry the scars from being called names. While Jimmy Kimmel may have celebrities read Mean Tweets about themselves, I bet it’s not always easy to laugh off hurtful comments. The Bible means it when it says, “Careless words stab like a sword.” But there’s more to that passage. It says, “But the words of wise people bring healing” (Proverbs 12:18 GW). God’s good news tells you how valuable you are; that you are treasured by him; that you are so valuable to him that he punished and killed his only Son instead of punishing you, all so that you could be in his family. Now it’s not only a privilege; it’s your purpose to pass along that healing message to other people.