Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them. - Ephesians 4:29 NLT
I went through the unfortunate phase of thinking swearing was cool or okay. I wasn't really big on it, but I did want to have my locker room talk. I played basketball, and the girls were older than me, so if they swore, I felt like I could or should. Oh, youth, oh, ignorance.
This verse is to make us mindful of our speech. As an adult, now able to take out the ignorance of swearing, am I really living out the verse above? "Let everything you say be good and helpful." Can I say that's been the case? Everything said can't be sugar-coated, but did what was said and how it was said bring encouragement?
You can speak the truth in love with sternness for sure. You can also speak intentionally to encourage others. With the same mouth, you can do the opposite of both. See, this isn't only about watching your mouth. This is about using your mouth to uplift others.
Definitely don't speak poorly, but also don't waste your words. Let all that you say have the intended purpose of encouraging those who will hear it. After all, what we said will still be around even when we aren't.
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