Every day you and I give people an impression of who Jesus is by the words we use.  Are they hearing, or reading, words from you which would draw them to Christ or push them away?  Are you using words which draw you into greater relationship with God or words which create distance?  Over the next 8 days I will be sharing from the devotional journal, “Watch Your Mouth”, with the prayer that it helps you discover some of what God has to say about choosing words which honor Him.

Here is day twenty-four with an important reminder that watching your mouth should lead you to words which teach others about the goodness of God.

Choose Teaching Words

“O my people, hear my teaching; listen to the words of my mouth.  I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter hidden things, things from of old — what we have heard and known, what our fathers have told us.  We will not hide them from their children; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done.”
Psalm 78:1-4 (NIV)

Who do you take instruction from?  How do you decide if something is good instruction?  Who is the teacher that has made the longest-lasting impression in your life?  Why?  What are some things that you have taught, or could teach, others?  How does it make you feel to know that there are currently people learning something from you simply by observing the way you live?  Does knowing that make you want to be more deliberate in choosing teaching words?

People often say that life is a test.  While I understand what they mean, I think life is really more like a series of instructional times with the primary test being the final exam at the end of life.  The responsibility of every Christian is to not only learn the lessons in life needed to be prepared for the final exam, but to teach in every way possible how others can be ready for an eternity with God.  As you pray, ask God to help you choose teaching words that will instruct others in the way they ought to walk.  Pray that you would make the most of every opportunity to help someone grow in their relationship with Christ through your teaching.

In prayer,

Tom