Words matter. 2 Corinthians 10.1-2

Oh, how much we have learned about faithful godly living from Paul’s two letters to the church at Corinth! And now we move into the home stretch of his second letter. And yet again as we start out chapter 10, we see Paul defending his apostleship. From our 2000-year later perspective, it is still incredible to think of Paul defending his calling and his viability as a teacher of the gospel. But
then, of course, you and I have the advantage of Scripture’s
biographical information about how Paul came to Christ, and how
radically his life had been changed—from Christian-hater to
Christ-defender and world’s first missionary. We also know, as Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest of the story”, while these folks were in the middle of Paul’s story. Take a look with me at today’s passage:

2 Corinthians 10.1-2 – “Now I, Paul, appeal to you with the gentleness and kindness of Christ—though I realize you think I am timid in person and bold only
when I write from far away. Well, I am begging you now so that when I come I won’t have to be bold with those who think we act from human motives.”

Stop. So Paul addresses the criticism that he is bolder in print than in person. Hmmm . . . ‘know anyone like that? Can’t ‘man up’ when they are looking you in the eye, but they sure can send you a blistering e-mail, or text message . . .

Please, Christ follower … wait! Allow me to segue a moment here. ‘Just started another session of Women of Passion (Bible study)—how I love those girls! Our numbers are growing because our fervor for God is growing, along with our desire to know his love and share in it with others. You might say that we are passionate women, cuz we are. My opening message this last week included how Christians today are often deemed as downright unloving, and how we must break that trend. When Anne Rice recently renounced the name of Christianity because of the hate-filled Christians she encountered, I personally took the hit. So did you, “Christian”. Worse than that—how do you think God felt?

We must elevate the name “Christian” to bring honor to Jesus Christ’s name or not use it.

Self-identified Christians must learn to love and act

like Christ or call themselves something else.

Where was I? Oh, yes--Please, Christ follower, be careful with your words. As the writer of Ecclesiastes penned, ‘let your words be few’.1 Hmmm . . . ‘Where words are many,’ the writer of Proverbs said, ‘sin is not absent’. ‘By your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned,’ Jesus said.2

Case in point: I was sick this last week—I don’t know, probably some crazy virus, but I was literally in bed. Among other things, my eyes hurt so bad, I had to wear sunglasses in the house, and even at night! I found myself upstairs and my glasses downstairs, so I text-messaged Dylan (15 year old), to please bring my glasses upstairs, which he did
so promptly. Here’s the funny part—apparently, he had been
in the middle of a texting dialog with a little honey, and accidentally
sent the response intended for her to me! Ha, ha, ha. ‘Gave
me a good teachable moment to explain again that his words certainly
could get him in trouble, or at the very least, embarrass him. How about you? Are you careful with your texting? People text and e-mail and Facebook things they would never say out loud…..why is that?

There are so many things in life that we really can’t control, but one thing we can, is how we use our words. Jesus said we will be held accountable for every idle word we speak.3 Paul said that no unwholesome word should be attributed to us—that our words should build people up, and encourage them!4 Please issue forth words of life.

Yes, let's you and I speak words of life...or not at all.

Christine