Speak and make it happen

Talk isn’t cheap

Poatina morning tea devotion given yesterday

Verse that stood out to me when joining Fusion was from 1 Timothy 4:12 – Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.

Five things that Paul refers to about setting an example.  Today talking about the way we speak.

It’s easy to misinterpret things ie. “Daytrip man vs wild girls and guys invited” – has a different meaning with punctuation “daytrip, man vs wild, girls and guys invited”

Growing up – felt like it was hard to say what I really meant.  To have integrity to represent self.

Why do you say what you say?

One of the first things Paul says is to focus on what you say.

Aussies tend to be less focused on the words, than the action we put in.

Bible says that what we say actually matters.

Words can create the reality in which we live. Ie tell a child he’s an idiot and he’ll prove you right.

With most of Jesus’ ministry, his words were matched with action.

What’s the difference between words that are boring and interesting?

What causes words to evoke feelings?  Their reality to your life.

Why don’t you say some things?  Why avoid saying stuff?  Either they may hurt someone or yourself. Can choose to withhold saying something – the words may hurt another person, or if you do say something, then they might not like you (hurting self).

Paul says our words matter.

The affect of our communication is what’s important.
Proverbs 12:18-19 “…words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing. Truthful lips endure forever, but a lying tongue lasts only a moment.”

Proverbs 15:4 “..soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit.”
Isaiah 50:4 “..Sovereign LORD has given me a well-instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary…”
Matthew 12: 36-37 “…give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

2 Timothy 2:14 “…Warn them before God against quarreling about words; it is of no value, and only ruins those who listen.”
1 Peter 4:11 “…If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God…”

Can think “the stuff I’m doing is the real work”.  My challenge is to think beyond my feelings to what I will actually say.

When I’m not thinking about consequences, I might need to “shut up”.

Affect of my behaviour is not matching it with my feelings but whether I damage other people.

James says the “tongue is like a fire”.  Talking without thinking can set my course of life down a different path than hoped or planned.  Like a wildfire.

Everyday, have to think about what I say… self-centredness is the clearest indicator when I’m not thinking about what I say.

Important for leadership and also for community.

What does it mean to love others?

Whether in the playground, lecture, cuppa with friends, wandering around Village, in office, outside on the tools… when I allow myself to not be the centre of the universe and take others into consideration…

Clearest measure for me is by what I say.