Our opening verse underscores the value and importance of graceful and edifying communication. You’re to use your tongue correctly. Say the right things about others. Don’t speak hurtful words to, or about other people.

 

When you speak hurtful words to other people and about other people, you actually destroy the programming of good in you. The reason is, God placed us in the earth to build and help other people; to be in His place, and be the expression of His righteousness, goodness and grace to other people. Therefore, when we choose to hurt others, we taint the programming of good and the righteousness of God in us; then, our lives go in the wrong direction and we wonder why things aren’t going the way they ought to.

 

Once in the Bible, Aaron and Miriam, Moses’ sister, spoke against Moses: "And Miriam and Aaron spake against Moses because of the Ethiopian woman whom he had married: for he had married an Ethiopian woman. And they said, Hath the LORD indeed spoken only by Moses? hath he not spoken also by us? And the LORD heard it" (Numbers 12:1-2). God wasn’t pleased with what they did (Numbers 12:6-9). The result was that Miriam became leprous for her judgmental communication against Moses.

 

You should be mindful of the words you speak and how you say them, especially about God’s servants. Being born again, you have the wisdom of God resident in your spirit, to guide you to speak right, in line with God’s perfect will always.