Emphasis on Wholesome Words

8/2/2019 Emphasis on Wholesome Words

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PROVEN WORDS

MAY 1

Bible Reading: Genesis 42:3-20Key Verse: 16-“Send one of you, and let him fetch your brother, and ye shall be kept

in prison, that your words may be proved, whether there be any truth in you: or

else by the life of Pharaoh surely ye are spies.” Key Words: that your words may be proved

If we had to prove our words, would we be found to be truthful?Is that not what happened to Moses when he faced Pharaoh? On ten

occasions he had to prove he was telling the truth; and on ten occasions he wasfound to be truthful.

Four high school boys agreed to skip class and go see a movie. Reporting toschool the next day, they told the teacher that the car in which they had been ridinghad a flat tire. Much to their relief, the teacher smiled and said, “That’s OK. Youmissed a short test yesterday, so you four take your seats apart from one another and take out a piece of paper.” As the boys found seats in different corners of theroom she asked, “Which tire was flat?”

I wonder how we would fare if all of our words had to be “proved.” Thoughtprovoking, isn’t it?

What to do:✞ Be truthful.

ACCEPTABLE WORDS

MAY 2

Bible Reading: Psalm 19Key Verse: 14-“Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be

acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.” Key Words: acceptable in thy sight

Man hears our words, but God not only hears what we say, but He sees why wesay it.

The word acceptable means “to delight in, to please.” Our words should beacceptable to God, delightful to God, and pleasing to God.

So often we say things to please men when our goal should be to please God.English evangelist George Whitefield (1714-1770) learned it was more



honoring to the Lord kept him from discouragement when he was falsely accused byhis enemies. Once Whitefield received a vicious letter accusing him of wrongdoing.His reply was brief and courteous: “I thank you heartily for your letter. As for whatyou and my other enemies are saying against me, I know worse things about myself than you will ever say about me. With love in Christ, George Whitefield.” He didn’t

try to defend himself. He was much more concerned about pleasing the Lord. As should we!! We should evaluate our words and ask ourselves, “If I say this,will it be acceptable to God?”

What to do:✞ Talk so as to please God, not impress man.

HATEFUL WORDS

MAY 3

Bible Reading: Psalm 109:1-5; 26-31

Key Verse: 3- “They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.”

Key Words: with words of hatred

Psalm 109 gives us some insight to what Absalom and Ahithophel were saying

about David. In our text verse David describes their words as “hatred.” It’s a strong

word meaning “odious, repulsive, sickening.” So the stories David’s enemies were

telling about David made David to look odious, repulsive, sickening. Abraham Lincoln, America's most beloved president, was anything but beloved

while he was in office. The South hated him. The anti-war activists hated him.

Democrats hated him, calling him a widow-maker. The media ridiculed his eyes,

looks, and body, calling him a freak of nature. Harpers Magazine did so much as to

call him a host of names in print: filthy story teller, despot, liar, thief, braggart,

buffoon, usurper, monster, ignoramus Abe, old scoundrel, perjurer, swindler, tyrant,

field-butcher, land-pirate.But Abraham Lincoln would not stoop down to the level of his critics. He won

over a lot of his enemies and critics by holding fast to this famous principle

encapsulated in his second inaugural address: "With malice toward none, with

charity for all, with firmness in the right.”



So when people are speaking hatefully of you, it is really they who are odious,

repulsive, and sickening to God.

What to do:

✞ Be like President Lincoln and don’t stoop down to their level.

SNARED WORDS

MAY 4

Bible Reading: Proverbs 6:1-11Key Verse: 2- “Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth, thou art taken with the

words of thy mouth.” Key Words: Thou art snared with the words of thy mouth

Have you ever made a commitment and then asked yourself, “Why did I saythat?” It probably happens quite frequently to all of us.

Remember the television commercial with the guy talking on the phone saying,

“I can do that. I can do that. I can do that.”? Then he hangs up and says, “How canI do all that?”

Maybe we need to follow the advice of Nancy Reagan and “just say no.”It is an honorable thing to have a desire to help others, but it’s never honorable

to over-commit and not fulfill our promise. It is not honorable to over-commit tothings that require us to neglect our faithfulness to God and God’s House.

W.A. Criswell tells of an ambitious young man who told his pastor he’d promised

God a tithe of his income. They prayed for God to bless his career. At that time hewas making $40.00 per week and tithing $4.00. In a few years his income increasedand he was tithing $500.00 per week. He called on the pastor to see if he could bereleased from his tithing promise, it was too costly now. The pastor replied, "I don’tsee how you can be released from your promise, but we can ask God to reduceyour income to $40.00 a week, then you’d have no problem tithing $4.00."

We should all choose our words carefully for tomorrow we have to fulfill them.

What to do:✞ Do what you say you will do.



FLATTERING WORDS

MAY 5

Bible Reading: Proverbs 7:1-5 and Psalm 12Key Verse: Prov. 7:5- “That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the

stranger which flattereth with her words.”

Key Words: which flattereth with her words

God’s Word has nothing good to say about flattery.

We are told in Proverbs 20:19 to “meddle not with him that flattereth.” InProverbs 28:23 we read, “He that rebuketh a man afterward shall find more favour than he that flattereth with his tongue.” In Proverbs 29:5 we are told “a man that

flattereth his neighbor spreadeth a net for his feet.”In ancient Greece, the politically crafty philosopher Aristippus had learned to getalong in court by flattering the tyrant Denys. Aristippus looked down his nose atsome of his less prosperous fellow philosophers and wise men who would not stoopthat low. One day he saw his old colleague Diogenes washing some vegetables,and he said to him disdainfully, “If you would only learn to flatter King Denys youwould not have to be washing lentils.” Diogenes looked up slowly and in the sametone replied, “And you, if you had only learned to live on lentils, would not have to

flatter King Denys.”Someone has said, “Flattery is like perfume. The idea is to smell it, not swallow

it.” Another suggested, “Flattery is like counterfeit money which, but for vanity,would have no circulation.” Most of us would rather be hurt by flattery than helpedby criticism. It could be said, “Flattery is not communication; it is manipulation.”

What to do:✞ All praise of men should glorify God. If God can’t receive the glory,

then don’t say it.

TOO MANY WORDS

MAY 6

Bible Reading: Proverbs 10:11-21Key Verse: 19- “In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth

his lips is wise.”

Key Words: In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin



Have you ever said something you regretted saying? I’m sure we all have. Ihave a little saying that goes, “I’m seldom sorry for what I don’t say. I’m often sorryfor what I do say.” The old saying, “If in doubt, don’t” should surely apply to our words.

The shortest inaugural address was given by the endeared George Washington.

It contained only 135 words. William H. Harrison delivered the longest: 9,000 wordsthat took two hours. A freezing northeast wind made everything about the speechseem long. Such verbosity caught up with President Harrison. The next day hecame down with a cold and died a month later from pneumonia. Surely Proverbs10:19 would have applied here, “He that refraineth his lips is wise.”

The moral of this story would be “talk long enough and it will kill you.”Our children in K4 and K5 and 1st and 2nd Grade walk around with their

pointing finger over their mouths. The point is “don’t talk.” Maybe we should do the

same.

What to do:✞ Shhhh!!

GRIEVOUS WORDS

MAY 7

Bible Reading: Proverbs 15:1-14Key Verse: 1- “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

Key Words: grievous words stir up anger

Is it just me or do you have a hard time finding those soft words when you are

upset?

Richard L. Dunagin writes:

At their school carnival, our kids won four free goldfish (lucky us!), so out I went

Saturday morning to find an aquarium.

The first few I priced ranged from $40 to $70. Then I spotted it—right in the

aisle: a discarded 10-gallon display tank, complete with gravel and filter—for a merefive bucks. Sold! Of course, it was nasty dirty, but the savings made the two hours of

clean-up a breeze.

Those four new fish looked great in their new home, at least for the first day. But

by Sunday one had died. Too bad, but three remained. Monday morning revealed a

second casualt and b Monda ni ht a third oldfish had one bell u .



We called in an expert, a member of our church who has a 30-gallon tank. It

didn’t take him long to discover the problem: I had washed the tank with soap, an

absolute no-no. My uninformed efforts had destroyed the very lives I was trying to

protect.

Sometimes in our zeal to clean up our own lives or the lives of others, we

unfortunately use “killer soaps”—condemnation, criticism, nagging, fits of temper.

We think we’re doing right, but our harsh, self-righteous treatment is more than they

can bear.

Let’s face it! God is always right, “A soft answer turneth away wrath.”

What to do:✞ Remember, “He who can anger you, controls you.”

PLEASANT WORDS

MAY 8

Bible Reading: Proverbs 16:24-33

Key Verse: 24-“Pleasant words are as an honeycomb, sweet to the soul, and health tothe bones.”

Key Words: pleasant words

Pleasant words are said to be sweet and they strengthen us. I need to hear

pleasant words occasionally. They make my soul sweet and they give me strength

to carry on.

Today we have all kinds of ways to communicate with people: emails,Facebook, texting, tweeting, and others; and before this devotion gets to you, there

may be other ways. While we communicate continually, I find people still longing for

an occasional pleasant word.

Hearing about the honeycomb reminds me of the story of Saul’s son, Jonathan.

He was famished from chasing the Philistines and when he sees a honeycomb he

reached out the end of his staff that was in his hand and dipped it into the

honeycomb. He raised his hand to his mouth and his eyes brightened(I Samuel

14:27).

The honeycomb was a source of energy and life to Jonathan. The Bible

compares our words to this. The positive and uplifting words we choose to use have

the power to bring nourishment and healing.



Pleasant words go a long way. In fact, this Scripture tells us that they are sweet

to the soul and healing to the bones.

Take advantage of your opportunities to encourage.

What to do:✞ Be different. Share a pleasant word with others today. In doing so,

you will sweeten a soul and strengthen one’s spiritual health.

GOSSIPING WORDS

MAY 9

Bible Reading: Proverbs 18:1-8Key Verse: 8- “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the

innermost parts of the belly.” Key Words: words of a talebearer

We find the words of Proverbs 18:8 found again in Proverbs 26:22.

The word talebearer means a blabbermouth or a gossip.

I know what I’m about to say is not a very good pastoral analogy, but I callgossipers people who are sick…they have diarrhea of the mouth. A gossip loves totalk about others. They love to talk about the sins of others, never realizing that ingossiping about others’ sins, they are sinning themselves.

A talebearer also is a fault-finder, finding faults in others while excusing their own.

Before we are too harsh in judging those scribes and Pharisees of Jesus’ day,

let’s stop and look at ourselves. All too many Christians today go to church to findfault, to gossip, and to criticize. Warren Wiersbe, in his book Angry People, wrote,“An incident in the life of Joseph Parker, the great British preacher, illustrates thistragic truth. He was preaching at the City Temple in London. After the service one of the listeners came up to him and said, ’Dr. Parker, you made a grammatical error inyour sermon.’ He then proceeded to point out the error to the pastor. Joseph Parker looked at the man and said, ’And what else did you get out of the message?’ Whata fitting rebuke!”

What to do:✞ Remember, talebearers are a dime a dozen so don’t lower your value

by joining their gossip club.



WORDS OF A TRANSGRESSOR

MAY 10

Bible Reading: Proverbs 22:1-16Key Verse: 12- “The eyes of the LORD preserve knowledge, and he overthroweth the

words of the transgressor.”

Key Words: words of the transgressor

The word transgressor means someone who has infringed, overstepped one’sboundaries to trespass, to go where we should not go with our words.

We’ve all seen “No Trespassing” signs. We all understand what that means.Each of us needs to be aware that there should be boundaries with our words aswell. We often use the phrase “Mind your own business.”

Some years ago our neighbor’s dog had a bad habit of digging holes under our fence so he could crawl under and come and play with our dachshund. Theproblem was that he would often leave our back yard in a mess, and when he wouldgo home he didn’t always use the same hole. He had to dig another one; so theback yard was a disaster. The fence line was full of holes and besides, our littledachshund didn’t even like the visiting mutt.

I have found people who transgress do the same thing: they dig holes andspread a little trash and leave others to clean it up. But never fear… the

transgressor’s day is coming for we are told in Proverbs 22:12 that “[The Lord]overthroweth the words of the transgressor.”

Oh, and by the way, our neighbor put a little shock treatment in the fence…somuch for our little transgressor! Come to think of it, maybe that’s what the humantransgressor needs: a little shock treatment. But we’ll let God take care of that.

What to do:✞ Remember, our lips and tongue need boundaries as well.

WORDS OF THE TRUTH

MAY 11

Bible Reading: Proverbs 22:17-29Key Verse: 21- “That I might make thee know the certainty of the words of truth; that

thou mightest answer the words of truth to them that send unto thee?” Key Words: words of truth

Is there any doubt that Solomon has in mind God’s Word? It is certainly thewords of truth.



Some time back there was a joke, “How do you know when a lawyer is lying?Easy…his lips are moving.” Now, we know that it isn’t that way with all lawyers anymore than it’s that way with any other profession. But would you not agree that intoday’s world we have started to wonder if anyone is telling the truth and nothing butthe truth? Why, not even God’s Word is trusted anymore.

In a Barna research poll that was just completed recently, several troubling factscame to light about where the American public is intellectually and spiritually. Thepoll examined several different beliefs and found that, “most adults reject the notionsof original sin, the existence of Satan, and salvation by God’s grace alone.” It alsodiscovered that “Americans tend to think that the core documents of the world’smajor faiths, such as the Bible, the Koran and the Book of Mormon, are ‘differentexpressions of the same spiritual truth’ and that praying to the dead can reappersonal benefits.” It goes on to say, “Americans are nearly as likely to say that

Jesus Christ sinned as to believe that He lived a sinless life.”Have we digressed that far? Probably so. But I’m so glad today to know that I

can trust the certainty of the words of truth (God’s Word), aren’t you?

What to do:✞ Don’t be detoured today by our liberal media, our liberal educational

system, or the liberal politicians, and the many liberals who fill many of the pulpits in America today. God’s Word is truth and one day they’llknow that as well.

WORDS OF KNOWLEDGE

MAY 12

Bible Reading: Proverbs 23:1-12Key Verse: 12- “Apply thine heart unto instruction, and thine ears to the words of

knowledge.” Key Words: words of knowledge

The word knowledge means “to be aware of.” We live in a world when peoplehave much human knowledge but little Biblical knowledge. Because of that they fail

to reach a proper Biblical conclusion in regard to life.Howard G. Hendricks in his book, Living by the Book , tells about a scientist that

was using the inductive method to observe the characteristics of a flea. Plucking aleg off the flea, he ordered “Jump!”

The flea promptly jumped.Taking another leg off, the scientist again commanded, “Jump!”



The scientist continued this process until he came to the sixth and final leg. Bynow the flea was having a little more difficulty jumping, but it was still trying.

The scientist pulled the final leg off and again ordered the flea to jump. But theflea didn’t respond.

The scientist raised his voice and demanded, “Jump!” Again the flea failed to

respond.For a third time the scientist shouted at the top of his lungs, “Jump!” But thehapless flea lay motionless.

The scientist then made the following observation in his notebook: “When youremove the legs from a flea, it loses its sense of hearing.”

We laugh at this, and it is humorous; but we must understand that when weleave God’s Word out of our decision-making process, we as well come up withsome “way out” conclusions.

What to do:✞ Apply the words of knowledge.

LOOSE WORDS MAY 13

Bible Reading: Leviticus 19:1-16Key Verse: 16- “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people:

neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD.”

Key Words: Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer

The Navy during World War II had a saying, “Loose lips sink ships.” But evenmore important than that were those lives lost and people hurt because of someone’s loose words. The average person cannot carry on an intelligentconversation. Most conversation consists of gossip, talebearing, and murmuring.What a shame, what a sin.

John Wesley wrote the following six guidelines for his talk and conversation.We would do well to apply them to our lives.

That I will not intentionally listen to or inquire after any ill concerning others.

That, if I do hear ill concerning others, I will not be in a hurry to believe it.That I will get all of my facts before I render a decision.That I will not write or speak a syllable of any ill to any other person other than

the one whom it concerns.That neither will I mention it to another person as to what I’ve done.That I will not let gossip, talebearing and murmuring be named among my sins.



A woman who earned her living for more than 40 years by going about her neighborhood cleaning house for others was asked how it was she was so well-likedby everyone for whom she worked. She replied, “I make it a practice never to repeatwhat I hear with anyone.” Amen! Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people.

What to do:✞ Shhhh!!

SAY SO WORDS

MAY 14

Bible Reading: Psalm 107:1-9Key Verse: 2- “Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from

the hand of the enemy;”

Key Words: Let the redeemed of the Lord say so

There are two ways the tongue can be used incorrectly. The first of these ways

is known to all of us. It is by speaking. When our tongue is used as a tool of gossip,slander, cursing, or even idle talk, we misuse our tongue. We are told in Psalm39:1a, “I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue.” The secondway we use our tongue incorrectly is through silence, not speaking up when weshould. Ezekiel warns us against the silence of the tongue in Ezekiel 3:18, “When Isay unto the wicked, Thou shalt surely die; and thou givest him not warning, nor speakest to warn the wicked from his wicked way, to save his life; the same wickedman shall die in his iniquity; but his blood will I require at thine hand.” If you sawyour neighbor’s house on fire and you failed to warn your neighbor you would bebranded as a fool for the rest of your life. Then what of those who we know arebound for an eternal fire? Should we not warn them as well; and if we fail to do so,what does that say about us?

I recently read the following story. “Two businessmen lived side by side in asuburb. One was a professing Christian, and the other was an unbeliever. Theyboth lived in the city and rode the same train to work each morning. Several years

were spent each morning in neighborly conversation. One day the unbeliever became seriously ill. His doctor told him, “John, you are very sick. Would you likefor me to call your pastor or someone who could help you spiritually?” John shookhis head and said, “No. There is nothing they can offer. My neighbor is a goodChristian and for years we have ridden the same train together each morning and hehas never mentioned salvation to me. If it is not worth living for then it’s probably

”



Maybe we need to consider the word of the psalmist, David, “Let the redeemedof the Lord say so.”

What to do:

✞ If you are redeemed, say so…live so!!

NO WORDS

MAY 15

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1-11Key Verse: 7- “A time to rend, and a time to sew; a time to keep silence, and a time to

speak;” Key Words: A time to keep silence

Solomon said in Ecclesiastes 3:7 that there is a time to keep silence and a timeto speak. Certainly there are different types of silence. There is a foolish silence, acowardly silence, and a resentful silence. Why, there is even a “get even” silence.None of these are recommended, by the way. The one we heartily recommend is a

prudent silence: a holy, gracious silence which the Scripture heartily recommends.If one does not practice this type of silence, he will speak injurious words and stir upstrife (Proverbs 15:1). Harsh, uncontrolled language will be used (Proverbs 21:23).

Someone has listed six “misses” that can result: “miss” information, “miss”representation, “miss” quotation, “miss” interpretation, “miss” construction, and“miss” understanding. These result when we speak and should be silent. Never assume that you have all the facts or you will “miss up” everything.

Two ladies stood in disagreement. One was arguing vehemently and gesturingwildly while the other lady stood perfectly still, tranquil, and silent. Finally, the firstwoman shouted and stomped her foot and said, “Speak, so I can argue with youmore!”

We can quickly lose our testimony by speaking quickly and impulsively. Today,let’s ask the Holy Spirit to help us maintain a sensible silence.

What to do:✞ Preach often, and if necessary, use words.



UNHEEDED WORDS

MAY 16

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 7:8-21Key Verse: 21- “Also take no heed unto all words that are spoken; lest thou hear thy

servant curse thee:”

Key Words: take no heed unto all words that are spoken

Probably more words go unheeded than heeded. We, for some reason, don’tlike to hear “no” or “don’t” or “you shouldn’t” or “I wouldn’t.”

A tourist in Scotland some years ago, unacquainted with the nature of the coast,wandered along a path, which is only safe at low tide. Delighted with the seascape,he watched with admiration the huge waves breaking on the shore, and gazed with

awe at the precipitous rocks towering above him, and so entranced was he with hissurroundings, he did not notice that the sea was gradually encroaching on hispathway.

A native, observing the stranger from the lofty cliffs, descended as far as he wasable with safety, and drew his attention by a loud "hulloo," and said: "If you pass thisspot, you lose your last chance. The tide is rising, already the beach you havetraveled is covered, and the waters are nearing the foot of the cliffs before you. Bythis path alone can you escape."

The warning went unheeded, for the tourist thought he was able to make theturn in the road before the sea reached the cliff, but he misjudged the distance, andsoon saw with alarm the danger of his position. He turned back, but alas! the seahad already cut off his way of escape. He looked at the cliffs, which wereinaccessible, the waters were at his feet. He sought higher ground, but to nopurpose. At last a projecting rock was seen. He reached it but the relentless wavescame on. They reached him inch by inch, until they reached his neck. He uttered

one despairing cry for help, but none was near.The waters covered this victim of self-confidence. He neglected the warning andperished. "There is a time we know not when, A point we know not where, Thatmarks the destiny of men For glory or despair." -Gospel Herald .

To the graduating class, I bequeath the good advice that I gave to the studentsof former years. It really is as good as new, for very few have ever used it.Raymond L. Nooman

What to do:✞ We would be wise to heed good council from those who have traveled

like paths.



HEEDED WORDS

MAY 17

Bible Reading: Ecclesiastes 9:7-18Key Verse: 17- “The words of wise men are heard in quiet more than the cry of him

that ruleth among fools.”

Key Words: The words of wise men are heard in quiet

There are actually two truths in these few words. The first truth is that wisecounsel is mostly given in quiet or private. Secondly, a wise person will heed wisewords.

Speaking of heeding some good advice… here’s some!!

1. Business is made up of ambiguous victories and nebulous defeats. Claim them allas victories.2. Keep track of what you do; someone is sure to ask.3. Be comfortable around senior managers, or learn to fake it.4. Never bring your boss a problem without some solution. You are getting paid tothink, not to whine.5. Long hours don’t mean anything; results count, not effort.6. Write down ideas; they get lost, like good pens.

7. Always arrive at work 30 minutes before your boss.8. Be sure to sit at the conference table—never by the wall.9. Help other people network for jobs. What goes around comes around.10. Don’t take sick days—unless you are.11. Assume no one can/will keep a secret.12. The most successful people in business are interesting.13. Sometimes you’ll be on a roll and everything will click; take maximum

advantage. When the opposite is true, hold steady and wait it out.14. Never in your life say, “It’s not my job.”15 Understand the skills and abilities that set you apart. Whenever you have anopportunity, use them.16. People remember the end of the project. As they say in boxing, “Always finishstronger than you start.”

What to do:✞ Heed the advice listed above.



CORRUPT WORDS

MAY 18

Bible Reading: Daniel 2:1-13Key Verse: 9- “But if ye will not make known unto me the dream, there is but one

decree for you: for ye have prepared lying and corrupt words to speak before me,

till the time be changed: therefore tell me the dream, and I shall know that ye canshew me the interpretation thereof.”

Key Words: corrupt words

The astrologers, sorcerers, and the Chaldeans could not tell the king what he

had dreamed. The king knew they were stalling for time and knew whatever they

said would be untrue. So he simply said, “Any words you share will be corrupt.”

The word corrupt means faulty, decaying, rotten.Some years ago, I was making some hospital visits. When I first got in the car I

smelled a bit of a bad odor, but I gave it very little thought. But after making several

hospital calls, I noticed the odor was getting stronger and was becoming difficult to

endure. I looked the car over, searching for where the odor might be coming from

but with no success. When I did finally arrive back at the office, the odor had

become unbearable. So rolling up my sleeves, I set out to find where this foul odor

was coming from. Just as I was about to give up, I saw a “sippy cup” lodged under

the passenger front seat. When I pulled the cup out, I immediately realized I had

found my “odor” problem. Whatever was in the cup was now “green and growing.”

What a horrible smell!! Now, while I had to endure the odor, I wasn’t the one with

the odor nor was I the cause of the odor. The corrupt sippy cup was the one that

smelled and was the cause.

So it is with those who use corrupt words. Their words send out a foul odor of lies and deceit, bitterness, and malice. They may be hard to notice at first but the

person with a corrupt mouth and corrupt words will eventually “stink up the place.”

So it was with the king’s soothsayers.

What to do:

✞ Let God’s Word be your mouth freshener each morning.



PRAYER WORDS

MAY 19

Bible Reading: Hosea 14Key Verse: 2- “Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away

all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips.”

Key Words: Take with you words

These words were spoken to the nation of Israel who had turned away from theLord. So Hosea, inspired by the Holy Spirit, was encouraging them to pray to Godand ask God to be gracious to them.

Attending church in Kentucky, we watched an especially verbal and boisterouschild being hurried out, slung under his irate father’s arm. No one in the

congregation so much as raised an eyebrow – until the child captured everyone’sattention by crying out in a charming Southern accent, “Ya’ll pray for me now!”

~ Jean McMahon, Reader’s Digest

Early African converts to Christianity were earnest and regular in privatedevotions. Each one reportedly had a separate spot in the thicket where he wouldpour out his heart to God. Over time the paths to these places became well worn. As

a result, if one of these believers began to neglect prayer, it was soon apparent tothe others. They would kindly remind the negligent one, “Brother, the grass growson your path.”

~ Today in the Word

Let me encourage you to turn to the Lord and take with you words.

What to do:✞ Have you taken words to God today?

ENTICING WORDS

MAY 20

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 2:1-10Key Verse: 4- “And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of

man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:” Key Words: enticing words

Any message should be not with enticing words but with the power of God.



Paul said in Colossians 2:4, “And this I say, lest any man should beguile youwith enticing words.” He also says in verse 8, “Beware lest any man spoil youthrough philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ.”

Ronnie Miller, in an article entitled “Enticing Words”, says…

“Today we can pick and choose where we want to go and hear the Word of God just like going to the grocery store and shopping for our needs. So, let's look at whatyou might find.

You can shop for all kinds of churches and even shop for the whole family. Youcan pickup painkillers such as Aspirin or Tylenol. It's a church that gives you a quickfix so you can make it through another week or until Wednesday night and takeanother dose to make it to the next service.

Why not go down the Greeting Card aisle and pick up a church where you meet

with all your friends and relatives and talk about what a good time we have together and we sure are glad we don't have any outsiders to interrupt our fellowship that wehave with each other, after all this is our church.

Let's make sure we don't forget to go down the Personal Needs aisle and get achurch like some of the fancy body wash and pick up some bath oil. It makes usfeel so good about ourselves and lasts for days. It feels good and I deserve everymoment of self-pleasure. I don't know why everyone is not as clean as we are.

Oh my goodness! Don't forget the kids! Run over to the magazine rack and pickout a great entertainment church to keep them occupied and pick up some CD's thathave that upbeat music. I don't understand it, but they seem to enjoy it. We will joinin and pretend we understand. We will jump up and down to the beat, it will be fun,don't you think?

In the magazine rack is another church. It is wisdom, theology and philosophy.The preacher there is highly educated with many years of college and seminarytraining. But, what comes out of all that knowledge?

I heard of a theologian who used big words and tried to be very deep in histhinking. He had talked to a group for about half an hour. A man walked up to thegroup and asked one of the men, ‘What’s he talking about?’ The guy answered, ‘Hehasn’t said yet.’ That is the problem....he never would say. All he did was talk withenticing words.’”

Let’s speak with God’s power, not man’s.

What to do:✞ Apply I Corinthians 2:4.



WORDS OF GOSSIP OR GOSPEL?

MAY 21

Bible Reading: I Corinthians 15:1-20Key Verse: 1- “Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached

unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand;”

Key Words: the gospel which I preached unto you

Are you aware that the word gossip is not found in the Word of God? But its

meaning has a spiritual significance, or maybe I should say a lack of spiritual

significance. The word gossip comes from the old English “god-sibb.” The word

god is a “false god” and the word sibb means “akin to,” so then a gossiper would be

“someone who is akin to a false god.” Now, isn’t that interesting?!!

After three years of research, Indiana University Sociologist Donna Eder,

identified an important dynamic involved in gossip. Eder discovered that the initial

negative statement was not the starting point for gossip. The critical turning point

was found in the response to the initial statement. “She’s a snob” is not the starting

point of gossip. It is when someone else agrees that “She’s a snob” that the gossip

first begins. Eder found that the key is whether or not a negative statement is

seconded. If a second is provided, then gossip ensues. If the second is notprovided, then the conversation changes directions. No one ever challenged an

evaluation that had not been seconded. Now no matter how cutting the opening

remark, an immediate quibble from a listener could send the talk into a less critical

direction.

The moral of all this is “gossip isn’t any fun if you aren’t willing to agree.” Moral

number two: we have the power either to incite or defuse gossip.

But primarily I need to know that when I gossip, I’m akin to a false god andhelping to promote the work of Satan. So let’s not gossip, but rather let us spread

the gospel. Amen!

What to do:✞ Let’s spread the gospel, not the gossip.



VAIN WORDS

MAY 22

Bible Reading: Ephesians 5:1-10Key Verse: 6- “Let no man deceive you with vain words: for because of these things

cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience.”

Key Words: Let no man deceive you with vain words

The term vain words carries the idea of empty promises.

Satan promises the best, but pays with the worst; he promises honor and payswith disgrace; he promises pleasure and pays with pain; he promises profit and payswith loss; he promises life and pays with death.

~ Lou Nicholes

The saloon is a liar. It promises good cheer and sends sorrow. It promisesprosperity and sends adversity. It promises happiness and sends misery. It isGod’s worst enemy and the devil’s best friend.

~ Billy Sunday

But God’s promises are promises you can count on!

Livingstone, in Africa, came to the Zambezi, and wanted to cross. The chief hadbeen mistreated by some treacherous trader, and had vowed to kill the next whiteman who came across. Livingstone, by his fluttering candle, turned to the Bible andread, as always, his evening passage, coming to the promise, “Lo! I am with youalways, even unto the end of the world” (Matthew 28:20). Closing the Book, he said,“It is the word of a gentleman of the strictest and most sacred honor; I will not flee.”He did not flee and was used mightily by God in Central Africa.

The old evangelist of years gone by, Vance Havner, once said, “There areapproximately 8,810 promises in the entire Bible. In the Old Testament there are7,706 and in the New Testament there are 1,104 wonderful promises. Deuteronomy28 has 133 promises, which is more than any other chapter in the Bible. We’resitting on the premises when we ought to be standing on the promises!”

What to do:

✞ Man may let you down; God never will.



SLANG WORDS

MAY 23

Bible Reading: Colossians 4:1-9Key Verse: 6- “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may

know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Key Words: Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt

Do you use profanity? Must you resort to slang words to impress others? Are

you guilty of using those little semi-curses commonly heard today – words like

“darn,” “golly,” “gee,” “heck,” which are disguised forms of something much worse?

Their use shows a lack of refinement and reveals a quality that is unbecoming to a

Christian. The language of a spirit-filled believer should always be “with grace.”

Many people also engage in the irreverent use of the names of Bible characters

and spiritual terms. This denotes disrespect for God’s Word. How disgusting to

listen to people punctuate their conversations with minced oaths! In their attempt to

appear refined, they use expressions like “Good Heavens,” “Good Lord,” and other

thoughtless phrases. But what about the worst offense of all – taking the Lord’s

name in vain? Whenever we hear that, we must not remain silent.

A Godly farmer was attending a meeting of an agricultural society. Some of themen were freely using the words, “devil,” and “hell.” He felt uneasy but said nothing.

Then someone said, “Jesus Christ!” Immediately the farmer spoke up, “Sir, you may

speak lightly of YOUR master, but when you take MY Master’s name in vain, I

object! Talk about your master, the devil, if you want to, but please leave my Lord

out of it.”

To remain silent when someone uses God’s name in vain is sin (Leviticus 5:1).

Today’s text is God’s answer to all forms of “slanguage.”

What to do:✞ Your words are food for another’s soul, make sure you season it with

grace.



THE MORE YOU SAY

MAY 24

Bible Reading: Luke 10:25-42Key Verse: 25- “And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying,

Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?”

Key Words: a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying

The more this lawyer said the worse off he became. Which reminds me of a

humorous story I heard sometime back.

In the mountains of the Northwest, a man was sitting beside a campfire while he

roasted some kind of bird over the fire with eager anticipation. About this time, a

forest ranger came upon the camp and asked the camper what he was preparing for

dinner. The camper replied that it was a seagull. A frown came over the ranger’s

face as he informed this fellow that it was against the law to kill that particular bird,

and that he would have to give him a citation.

The camper responded by telling the ranger how he had lost his way and had

consumed all of his food. In desperation, he managed to kill this seagull to maintain

his strength. After listening sympathetically, the forest ranger told the fellow he

would let him go this time with just a warning, and the camper thanked the ranger profusely. Just as the ranger was about to leave, he asked the camper, “Just out of

curiosity, what does seagull taste like?” Thinking for a moment, the camper

responded, “Well, I would place it somewhere between a spotted owl and a bald

eagle.”

Wrong thing to say!!

Here is a challenge for you. Keep a written log for a week of words you say to

others and about others and see how many of our statements are evil, worldly,gossip, or pure, righteous, and uplifting. We may decide that the more we say the

worse off we are!!

What to do:✞ Keep that log.



UNPROFITABLE WORDS

MAY 25

Bible Reading: II Timothy 2:1-14Key Verse: 14- “Of these things put them in remembrance, charging them before the

Lord that they strive not about words to no profit, but to the subverting of the

hearers.” Key Words: they strive not about words to no profit

We live in a “gain” society. We don’t invest to lose; we invest to gain, to beprofitable. We understand that, especially when it comes to money.

A small businessman, who had immigrated to this country, kept his accountspayable in a cigar box, his accounts receivable on a spindle, and his cash in thecash register.

"I don't see how you can run your business this way," said his son. "How do youknow what your profits are?"

"Son", replied the businessman, "when I got off the boat, I had only 36 centsand the pants I was wearing. Today your sister is an art teacher, your brother is adoctor, and you are an accountant. I have a car, a house, and a good business.Everything is paid for.

"Just add it all up, subtract 36 cents and the pants, and there's your profit."

Why can’t we get it when it comes to our words? Each word we share either gains us respect or loses us respect; we either gain integrity or lose integrity. So thenext time you start to say something, remember…will it profit me or become a deficitto me? Something to consider, isn’t it?

What to do:✞

Remember, too many deficits will bankrupt your testimony.

OPPOSING WORDS

MAY 26

Bible Reading: II Timothy 4:14-22Key Verse: 15- “Of whom be thou ware also; for he hath greatly withstood our words.”

Key Words: greatly withstood our words

There were those such as Demetrius, the silversmith, and Alexander, thecoppersmith, who built idols to worship. It was their livelihood. So when Paulpreached against false gods and idols, he stirred up those whose livelihooddepended on such things. As a result, they began to oppose his words and



attempted to have Paul put to death. Words may not kill us physically but they canstill do much damage.

In his first season with the Brooklyn Dodgers, Jackie Robinson, the first blackman to play Major League baseball, faced venom nearly everywhere he traveled –fastballs at his head, spikings on the bases, brutal epithets from the opposing

dugouts and from the crowds. During one game in Boston, the taunts and racialslurs seemed to reach a peak. In the midst of this, another Dodger, a Southernwhite named Pee Wee Reese, called timeout. He walked over, put his arm aroundRobinson’s shoulder and just stood there. The heckling stopped, but Robinson,while always remembering what Pee Wee did for him, never forgot what Boston fansdid to him. Opposing words can hurt; remember that the next time you want to usethem.

What to do:✞ Make your words soft and tender in case you have to eat them.

SWELLING WORDS

MAY 27 Bible Reading: II Peter 2

Key Verse: 18- “For when they speak great swelling words of vanity, they allure

through the lusts of the flesh, through much wantonness, those that were cleanescaped from them who live in error.”

Key Words: swelling words

In order to get the full impact of the key verse, three things are necessary. First,

we must know who is being written about, and that is false teachers. Secondly, wemust read the entire chapter. Thirdly, we must understand the word swelling. Itmeans to bloat up or expand. These false teachers are speaking words which donot grow or mature a person spiritually. They simply bloat them.

Peter is warning the people to be cautious of false teachers that bloat you up,but do so for their personal gain. It is important to be able to identify these falseteachers (see verses 1 and 2) in order to both avoid them and save yourself from

their heresy. A Chinese boy who wanted to learn about jade went to study with a talented oldteacher. This gentle man put a piece of the precious stone into his hand and toldhim to hold it tight. Then he began to talk of philosophy, men, women, the sun andalmost everything under it. After an hour he took back the stone and sent the boyhome. The procedure was repeated for several weeks. The boy became frustrated.



wisdom of his venerable teacher. Then one day, when the old man put a stone intohis hands, the boy cried out instinctively, 'That's not jade!'"

“And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” John 8:32.

What to do:✞ Live for truth, not personal gratification.

FEIGNED WORDS

MAY 28

Bible Reading: II Peter 2:1-10Key Verse: 3- “And through covetousness shall they with feigned words make

merchandise of you: whose judgment now of a long time lingereth not, and their damnation slumbereth not.”

Key Words: feigned words

Three quick tidbits: 1) I know we just read II Peter yesterday; 2) I knowrepetition is one of the best forms of learning; and 3) I just love having three points.

The word feign in our text means “to be plastic, artificial, not real.” The wordsthese false teachers share are for the sole purpose of making merchandise of thehearers. Those who hear them, follow them, support them, fail to understand thatthey are saying what their constituents want to hear for their personal gain.

We, as preachers of the gospel, are told to preach the word, and while we are toexhort, we are also to reprove and rebuke.

It is imperative that we know who we are following. The American Banking Association in their training program to help tellers never look at a counterfeit bill.

All they do hour after hour, day after day, is handle authentic currency until they areso familiar with the true that they cannot possibly be fooled with the false. This isthe way we should be with the Word of God.

Don’t be fooled by feigned words. Ask for God’s guidance. Follow God, notman.

What to do:✞ Don’t be fooled by feigned words or you’ll become someone’s

merchandise.



DEVOURING WORDS

MAY 29

Bible Reading: Psalm 52Key Verse: 4- “Thou lovest all devouring words, O thou deceitful tongue.” Key Words: devouring words

For a little background you can read the story of David and Doeg in I Samuel

22.

David describes the person with a devouring tongue as being mischievous

(verse 1), a person with sharp (cutting) words (verse 2), deceitful (verse 2),

someone who loves evil (verse 3), someone who loves a lie more than the truth

(verse 3).

Devouring is more than eating; it is ravenous, beastly. Have you ever seen

sharks when they smell blood, or wild dogs in Africa on a hunt? That’s devouring.

When I was young, people would drop off their unwanted dogs in our

neighborhood. Those dogs would pretty much do anything for food. I remember

adopting one of these dogs. Of course, I did fail to tell my parents about the

adoption. Well, anyway, that’s another story. I decided that the skinny fellow

needed food so I gathered some together and put it in a bowl in the back yard andwatched as he “devoured” the food. He didn’t just eat; he growled and hissed and

chomped and bit and foamed at the mouth. He intended to leave nothing behind.

So it is with devouring words. They cut and tear; they bruise and destroy. The

person with devouring words is at war and their weapon is not an M-16 but

words…devouring words; and they will not be content until they see their prey

destroyed or consumed. How animalistic! How depraved!

What to do:✞ Remember, not only animals can be wild beasts. Avoid devouring

humans.



GOOD WORDS

MAY 30

Bible Reading: I Kings 12:1-11Key Verse: 7- “And they spake unto him, saying, If thou wilt be a servant unto this

people this day, and wilt serve them, and answer them, and speak good words to

them, then they will be thy servants for ever.” Key Words: speak good words

We know Rehoboam didn’t speak good words and, as a result, the peoplerebelled (verse 19).

It’s never wrong to do right. We are told in Galatians 6:10, “As we havetherefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.”

Good is always associated with God. In Genesis chapter 1 after God saw eachof His creation, He said it was good.

In Mark 10:18, Jesus asked the rich man, “Why callest thou me good? There isnone good but one, that is, God.”

We are told in Galatians 5:22 that one of the fruits of the Spirit is goodness.One of the ways I know that I am walking in the Spirit is that I treat people with

goodness, and I speak of them for good. Let me hasten to add, that doesn’t always

mean people like what we say or do.My dad used to say before he would spank me, “Now, this is for your good.” I

must admit at the time, I didn’t see it that way; but looking back on it, he, as usual,was right.

Finding good words to say about some people can be a difficult task. Remindsme of a humorous story that illustrates the point: It seems that St. Peter and theDevil had an agreement to share the costs of maintaining the fence betweenHeaven and Hell. One weekend there was a bit of a brawl in Hell that got out of hand, and part of the fence was smashed. It went unfixed for weeks and St. Peter approached the Devil about mending it. Nothing happened over the period of amonth. Finally, in exasperation, St. Peter said he would sue the Devil if he didn’t payup. “Oh” retorted the Devil, “and where are you going to find a lawyer in heaven?”

So it is with some people…good words are hard to come by.

What to do:✞ Find something good to say about others, and you will find they will

change their attitude about you.



WEARISOME WORDS

MAY 31

Bible Reading: Malachi 2:11-17Key Verse: 17- “Ye have wearied the LORD with your words. Yet ye say, Wherein

have we wearied him? When ye say, Every one that doeth evil is good in the sight

of the LORD, and he delighteth in them; or, Where is the God of judgment?” Key Words: wearied the Lord with your words

The priests were wearisome with their words to the Lord. They were calling evilgood and telling people God would delight in their evil. These were wearisomewords.

The word wearied in our text carries the idea of “annoyingly exhaustive.”There is a great illustration of this found in Chalk Talk . “It happens every time

the teacher calls a student to the chalkboard to solve a problem. Someone holdsthe chalk wrong and sends chills up and down the spines of everyone in the classwith that familiar classroom torture technique: ‘squeaky chalk.’

Why does a piece of chalk produce that hideous squeal? According to the book,The Flying Circus of Physics (With Answers), squealing chalk results from thephenomenon of ‘stick and slip.’ Incorrectly held chalk actually sticks to theblackboard. But when the writer bends the chalk enough, it suddenly slips and

vibrates, sporadically striking the chalkboard and producing that squeal we hear. Asthe vibrations decrease, the friction between the chalk and the board increases untilthe chalk sticks again and the torture begins once more.”

Annoyingly exhaustive!! I wonder if we ever become that way with our words.Hopefully not!!

What to do:✞ Make sure your words are never wearisome to God or others.



I deeply appreciate the help of

Cathy Fortenberry

Sandy Lancaster

Glenda Myrick

Mary Parsons

John and Tascha Piatt

Reba Pontbriand

And my lovely wife, Linda

Without God using these people to help

this devotional would not have been possible.

Dr. Mike Rouse

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Emphasis on Wholesome Words