MATURITY NEVER LEAVES YOUR SPEECH BEHIND
Anytime Olive wants to tell us she is ready to sleep, she will say “I want to skip”. We would keep repeating to her that it is “I want to sleep” and not “I want to skip”. Skipping is different from sleeping. Whenever she repeats it after us, she would always still say skip and not sleep.
One evening, she wanted to tell us she wants to sleep and she said “I want to sleep “. I was surprised. I asked her again and she said it correctly. Irewamiri said to me, “Leave my daughter. She is now mature. She does not say skip when she wants to sleep”.
At that moment, the Holy Spirit made me realise that one of the proofs of spiritual growth is actually the maturity of words.
For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.
James 3:2 KJV
As you grow spiritually, your tongue will be going through circumcision. You will not be found speaking idle, careless or profane words.
Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. Ephesians 4:29 KJV
Graceful words will replace idle and careless talking:
Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.
Colossians 4:6 KJV
Any maturity that leaves your speech behind is a scam. Paul crowned it for us that there is a strong link between growth and speaking:
but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ—
Ephesians 4:15 NKJV
You cannot be a student of God’s word and remain a vessel for careless speaking. Even your jokes will be mature carrying all the marks of a man who has been to the place of the circumcision of words.
What do you say when things are not working? How scriptural are your words?
Do you sense it when profane words are coated with a sweet rhythm?
Do you laugh at profane jokes?
The Psalmist prayed an essential prayer. He said “Let the Words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight” Are your words acceptable by the Father?
temilOluwa Ola, Eruwa