DIVINELY ORDERED SPEECH

“SOUND SPEECH that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” – Titus 2:8

The Divinely Ordered Tongue produces DIVINELY ORDERED SPEECH: “SOUND SPEECH that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you” (Tit.2:8). This second chapter of Titus’ epistle highlights the qualities of sound Christians, in deeds and words. How wonderful it is when the Christian has imbibed and displays the virtue of Ordered Speech: “Let your SPEECH always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one” (Col. 4:6). This refers to the use of right words: “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver…a gentle tongue breaks a bone” (Pro.25:11,15b). Ecclesiastes 12:10 refers to acceptable words: “The preacher sought to find out ACCEPTABLE WORDS: and that which was written was upright, even words of truth.”

James W. Moore, in “Seizing the Moments” wrote about right and wrong words:

The right words can bring peace. The wrong words can cause war and destruction.

The right words can bring harmony. The wrong words can cause discord and suspicion.

The right words can bring healing. The wrong words cab cause pain and sickness.

The right words can produce love. The wrong words can spread hatred and hostility.

Words, rightly employed, can be powerful, potent, and persuasive. A rightly-worded speech can excite or depress, encourage or discourage, motivate or demoralise, inspire and lift our spirits or dampen and deflate our souls, make us glad, sad or mad. Words can compel us to stand firm for what is right, good, and true, or they can destroy hope, shatter reputations, and take the winds out of our sails. Words can offer a beautiful prayer, deliver a commanding oration, preach a powerful sermon; or they can incite a riot or tell a filthy joke. Ordered speech, with the right words – the words of life – is creative and constructive, not caustic or destructive. Who should be the communicator of such speech, but the Christian?

Words – both spoken and written – are potent forces, for good or for evil. Words are not cheap, and should not be thrown around carelessly. Words can be bridges or they can be bombs. Words can be weapons of war or pillars of peace. Words can either move mountains or invent and erect obstacles. Words can be tools to build up spirits and minds or to tear them down. Knowing how to use the right words is a sign of spiritual maturity. Scriptures say much about the Power of Speech: 

“Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking deceit” (Psa.34:13). I have the choice and power to do so.

“You are snared by the words of your mouth; you are taken by the words of your mouth” (Pro.6:2). I must beware!

“A SOFT ANSWER turns away wrath, but a HARSH WORD stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness…A WHOLESOME TONGUE is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit” (Pro.15: 1-2, 4). Do I watch my words? Are they soft, harsh or wholesome?

“A man has joy by the answer of his mouth, and a word spoken in due season, how good it is!” (Pro.15:23). Do my words inspire Joy? Do I speak to meet the need of the season?

“PLEASANT WORDS are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the bones” (Pro.16:24). Are my words pleasant? Do they minister sweetness and health?

What we say and how we say it are powerful reflections of who we are and what we stand for. As believers, God’s creative power is in our mouth. The keys of His Kingdom are turned by our tongues: “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven” (Mt.16:19). God’s Word is never void of power; it is God’s people that are often void of sound and divinely ordered speech!