DCLM Daily Manna Friday 31 May 2024
TOPIC: Check Your Words
TEXT: Proverbs 15:1-4 (KJV)
15 A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.
2 The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.
3 The eyes of the Lord are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.
4 A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.
KEY VERSE
“A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”
Proverbs 15:1
DCLM Daily Manna Friday 31 May 2024 MESSAGE
In a country church of a small village, an altar boy serving the priest at Sunday mass accidentally dropped the cruet of wine. The village priest struck the altar boy sharply on the cheek and in a gruff voice shouted, “Leave the altar and don’t come back!” That boy became Tito, the Communist leader. In the cathedral of a large city, an altar boy serving the bishop at Sunday mass accidentally dropped the cruet of wine. With a warm twinkle in his eyes, the bishop gently whispered, “Someday you will be a priest.” That boy grew up to become Archbishop Fulton Sheen. Words, spoken or written, truly have power.
Those isolated incidents validate what we find in the text. It dwells essentially on the use of the tongue. Characteristic of the book of Proverbs, it adopts a two-edged-sword approach highlighting the right use and misuse of the tongue with their varied consequences. A wholesome tongue is compared to the tree of life whereas an uncontrolled tongue inflicts misery and destruction on its owner and on others.
READ DCLM Daily Manna Thursday 30 May 2024 – The Winners’ Ways
So many of the contentions in the world today result from the misuse of the tongue. Sharp arguments and even physical fights are preceded by grievous words that undermine the sensibilities of others or words spoken in an angry tone. But a person whose words are soft and measured will hardly attract a harsh response.
Believers should seek to possess a wholesome tongue that speaks from a transformed heart. Do not allow pressure, emotion or other people’s attitudes or actions to compel you to use grievous, abusive, cutting, sarcastic and belittling words. As a true Christian, you must ask God for the grace to speak aright.
THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Know what, when and how to speak in different situations of life.
BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: Haggai 1-2
