Proverbs 16:21-24 says,...

Today's verses are Proverbs 16:21-24, which read,

v.21 - The wise in heart will be called understanding, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness.

We speak the truth but we also are concerned on how we share it.  I have given out the truth in very unsweet ways at times.  I was right and what I was saying was right but I was not saying it in a way for the other to take it in.  They may have heard it because I was yelling it out but it wasn't going any deeper than their ear canals.  We want the truth, the wisdom called understanding, to penetrate the heart and therefore we need to look at the sweetness of our speech about it.  

v.22 - Understanding is a fountain of life to one who has it, but the discipline of fools is folly.

I failed to say that again we are back to the lips and our words in relationship to wisdom and also to the destruction that they can do if going the way of folly.  Solomon gives us again the results of a fountain of life for those of understanding and folly for those who follow the discipline of fools.  We usually don't think of discipline when we think of fools but there is discipline there to follow through on doing what is displeasing to God.  The ability is there to put things in place to follow, they are just following after what is foolish rather than what is wise.

A couple were have marital problems and came to me.  One of the complaints of the wife was that her husband showed no leadership in the home.  He was a basketball referee in the evenings after his day job.  He was very good.  He could handle hostile situations on the court and bring order to keep the game going and on top of that handle any uprising from out of control spectators.  He had the ability and used it to show leadership on the basketball court and he just needed to bring it to the court in his home.  We have the ability to be disciplined and we will discipline ourselves to be wise or to be foolish.

v.23 - The heart of the wise instructs his mouth and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

So the mouth and the heart are connected and it shows when the wise use this connection to instruct how this truth will come out.  There needs to be some direction from our heart to how we will speak.  It is not just coming from our mind but also from our heart.  The truth can be so intellectual at times just coming from our mind but we need it to also have emotion and motive that comes from our heart.  This is how we get the mind and heart combination when we quote "speak the truth in love."  They are to be used in tandem with each other to see maximum impact before something comes out of our mouths.

v.24 - Pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.

"Sticks and stones will break my bones but words will never hurt me" was a phrase heard as a kid but it was not true according to Scripture.  Words can do a lot of damage that is well beyond broken bones.  Those bones heal when broken and many times to be stronger than they were before.  The wounds of words can go on open and septic for years with no hope of closing.  The Bible puts a premium on words and what they can do and the wise have an opportunity to use them for healing rather than hurting.  

I love honey in the comb.  There are some very healthful properties to it in regards to colon cancer.  It is definitely sweet and pleasing but it also goes deeper to touch something that is unseen by the unaided human eye.  The wisdom of our words are like that when we connect the heart, mind, and mouth with following after God.  As we speak the truth in love, it goes deeper than what we know.  Have you ever had that experience when someone said something to you and it was at just the right time to make a huge difference in your life?  You went back and told them and they had no idea that it impacted you that way for the good.  Realize the power of God's words and say them God's way today and let His healing properties do their work in our lives and the lives of others.  Let's pray.

"Lord, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight is a verse we say in our prayers but may it also be a practice in our lives today.  Help us to connect our mind, heart, and mouth to be in line with You before we ever say anything and allow our words to be used by You and to bring glory to You.  Amen."

Pastor Adam