2-11-15 Communication

                             Let the words of my mouth,
and the meditation of my heart,

                          be acceptable in thy sight,
O LORD, my strength and my redeemer.
                                                                                                                                        Psalm 19:14

The subject of effective communication is, I believe, one of the most frequent subjects of practical inefficiency.
Since, acceding to Proverbs 18:21, “death and life are in the power of the tongue”, it makes me ponder about how the issue of righteous communication ought to be seen in my life.

As I review the passage above, I am reminded that the words from my mouth ought to be in line with the words of God as seen in His Word. Expletives (or explosives) tend to reflect the old nature habit patterns of an independent self-will. It is by my words that the world knows my heart, since Luke 6:45 reminds me that it is out of the abundance of the heart that the mouth speaks. I ought to be more inclined to listen than to speak, to accomplish God’s purpose in the life of both the speaker and the hearer.

The yardstick for my communication excellence should be the very heart of God. He has assured me that I can actually diffuse the anger of another by the righteous response of tenderheartedness and gentleness reflected in my responses to them. Reactive words only make an unrighteous situation more unrighteous. It is clear that I am to speak truth but with the sensitivity and compassion of the Savior. It is incompatible with the divine laws of God that redeemed sinners give rise to the old ways of communication that God hates. His heart’s desire is that my lips and life both explain and declare the miraculous eternal change He has wrought in my heart by the shed blood of His Son on my behalf.

Second Timothy teaches that if I am to be like Jesus, gentleness will replace the harshness of the past. Ephesians 4:29 shows us that if I am to be like Jesus, I will have encouraging words that develop others, rather than critical words that destroy them. Ephesians 4:25-26 commands me to speak the truth in love. It is unlike Christ to speak lies or to speak truth in anger. Matthew 22:37-39 reminds me that if I am to imitate Christ, my words must be focused on and oriented to God and others, rather than to myself.

As I have received Christ, may my external words begin to progressively demonstrate that internal change to my world.

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