Friday, August 16, 2013

August 17, 2013

"The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21

What you say cab have the power of life and death so be careful what you say!

We know that hope is a necessity for life. It has been proven a person can survive longer without food and water than they can survive without hope.

A number of years ago researchers performed an experiment to see the effect hope has on those undergoing hardship. Two sets of laboratory rats were placed in separate tubs of water. The researchers left one set in the water and found that within an hour they had all drowned. The other rats were periodically lifted out of the water and then returned. When that happened, the second set of rats swam for over 24 hours. Why? Not because they were given a rest, but because they suddenly had hope!
 
Think about it! The words you speak will either give hope that brings life or they will steal hope and lead to death.
 
You are living in an era where hopleness is on the rise. Many are being told that they are victims of fate and their future is pretty much predetermined by how or where they were born. If you were born in poverty you are pretty much a victim of fate and a loser in life's lottery. All you can do is accept your fate and resent those more fortunate than you.
 
We who follow Christ need not and should not participate in this "gloom and doom fest". We are the people of hope who live by the Word of Hope and follow the God of hope! So the words we speak should be hope filled words!
 
We who follow Christ have a hope not based on fantasy or wishful thinking, but our hope is built on the finished victorious work of Christ on the cross and in His resurrection! We do not hope in something that might happen but we hope in something that has happened!

In light of these realities I must ask you, "If you have this hope but are not speaking of it - WHY NOT? What is wrong with you?" And, "If you have this hope but you are speaking words of hopelessness and death - WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU? Why are you stealing hope rather than speaking hope?"

God came to earth as "The Word"! Jesus was the "Word" who "became flesh"! He came and brought hope. He left us a hopeful gospel! So, how is your speech? Are your words bringing hope or taking it away?