Verbal Volcanoes

Words alone can bring a government down or establish peace, destroy a marriage or renew hope, crush a child’s sense of worth or lift him to confidence and joy, unify a church or splinter it into angry factions, send a soul to hell or to heaven. When we observe carefully the impact of our words, we see why God cares so intensely about them. - Ray Ortlund

The account I read detailed the discovery of a lost city in the Amazon rainforest. According to the report, long ago, a magnificent city with a thriving culture existed due to the area’s bountiful agriculture. Ash from a nearby volcano enriched the soil and provided an abundance of food. The scholars surmised that the same volcano that improved the land and enriched their lives eventually destroyed their city and civilization.

The lone volcano provided both abundant blessing and catastrophic destruction to an entire civilization.

Like the volcano that poured out blessing and spewed forth destruction, our speech can enrich the lives of those we encounter or inflict pain and injury on them. James says, “Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be.” (James 3:10)

At times we are required to speak strong words of admonishment, but those times are few and far between. The normalcy of our conversations should offer uplifting, encouraging, and pleasant words of affirmation.

This week, allow your voice to ring out blessings and create the fertile soil in which an abundant crop of grace can grow. And guard your lips to avoid unleashing a destructive torrent of irretrievable comments.

Excelsior,

Dan Bolin

Author & President

Refueling in Flight Ministries, Inc