CONNECTED THROUGH WORDS

 

Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.  (Ephesians 4:29)

Communication breakdown—it is a problem that will destroy a marriage, degrade a business, defeat a team, and defile a church.  There is no connection to others without communication with them—and communication of the proper kind.  How can a couple sustain a relationship where there is not the communication of love?  Will a business be successful if the management and employees do not speak in a way that motivates the workers to produce and the customers to invest?  Can a team be a winner without the coaches and players communicating the game plan clearly and inspirationally with each other?  Is it possible for a church to accomplish her mission unless the shepherds speak the truth of God’s word in love and the members evangelize the sinners and edify the saints?  Where there is the proper communication, there will be a powerful connection.

Do you recall the Biblical story of the tower of Babel?  Sinful men, in rebellion against God’s decree to fill the earth instead gathered together and began to construct an idolatrous tower, reaching toward heaven.  God tore up their little playhouse.  All He had to do was to bring a communication breakdown by confusing their speech and the building project ceased.

Pentecost brought a reversal of Babel.  God’s Spirit came down and supernaturally gifted the followers of Christ with an ability to communicate with others, irrespective of their language.  It was a remarkable moment that led to nearly 3,000 new converts and would begin to build a bridge to carry the message of salvation to the ends of the earth.  This time the unified speech would not be to stubbornly resist God’s will, but to submissively respond to it.

God’s plan is to clearly communicate His truth in love with His church and then through His church.  We may be sure that Satan seeks to bring communication breakdown as his counterattack to roll back the assault on his dark kingdom.  The Infernal One pushes back against truth by messengers who communicate error.  He stirs up hateful speech to fight loving words.

Our response determines the outcome.  Truth is always more powerful than lies and love will forever overcome hate—but, not if we are living according to the old fleshly way of responding, rather than the new spiritual way of behaving.

The choice we make in this is quickly disclosed.  Words reveal our thoughts.  The tongue is the bucket that draws out what flows in the well of our hearts.  Listen to what we say and how we say it and we will know whether there is a loving communication or a lost connection being made.