TLIC FAMILY: PROVERBS. DAY 71. MARCH 12: CROOKED SPEECH.

THINK TOGETHER.

What’s the difference between something crooked and something straight?

READ TOGETHER

Proverbs 6:12. A worthless person, a wicked man, goes about with crooked speech,

Solomon is talking about crooked speech in this verse. He says that worthless and wicked people use crooked speech. The word worthless is the word that often means Devil. The Devil is the king of crooked speech isn’t he?

But what is crooked speech? What is Solomon talking about? Crooked speech is when we say things that are part true but also part lie. Half-truths. Words that twist the truth. Deceptions. Tricks. “Little white lies.”

Do you use crooked speech? Do you only tell part of the truth so that you don’t get into trouble? Do you try to trick others with what you say? Do you say mean things and then say “I was only joking.”? Do you ever try to talk others into doing bad things with you?

Often we think that the words we use are no big deal. But, like Solomon, Jesus taught us that our words reveal what is deep in our hearts. “Out of the heart the mouth speaks,” he said. And here is how the Apostle Paul said the same thing:

Ephesians 4:29-30. ²⁹Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. ³⁰And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God.

If you are a Christian you don’t have the Devil in you, you have God the Holy Spirit in you. What does that mean about our speech? It means it never has to be crooked. It can be true, and kind, and loving, and helpful, and encouraging. It can build others up and give grace. How? Because Jesus in us is talking through us.

Because of Jesus we have the Holy Spirit in us guiding what we say.

With Jesus our speech doesn’t have to crooked.

DO SOMETHING TOGETHER

Go around and have everyone say something positive, something that encourages everyone and gives grace to the hearers.

PRAY TOGETHER

Jesus, help me to not use crooked speech to get what I want. Make my speech straight and true like your love for me. Amen.

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