It's been said, "Be sure to watch the words you say, to keep them soft and sweet, for you'll never know from day to day, which ones you'll have to eat." I know this: my past is littered with carelss words that I wish I could take back, but I can't.

I've expressed my sorrow to God over my failures but honestly, I'm not sure how many people have been on the receiving end of my cynicism in the past. I'm fairly certain I could tell one person per day for the rest of my life and probably have a few to go. All of us should regularly ask God to refresh our memory if by doing so, we are inspired to make things right with those we've offended.

Paul gave a pattern for the way the church should behave in his letter. But, I wonder if he would have spent more time on this subject if he knew what problems would arise within the church in the future? No doubt, careless words are responsible for more offense, dejection, sorrow and disappointment among Christians than anything else.

Why not begin today with a plan to only say only things that God would say? Then if our words should offend someone, it won't be us doing the offending.

1 Developed from Read the Bible Thru ( Jb. 4:1-7:21 1 Co. 14:18-40 Ps. 37:29-40 Pr. 21:27 )
2. Scripture comes from the Holy Bible, New International Version; (c)1978 by New York International Bible Society

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