Matthew 12:22-50
Dear RTB’ers,
I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned. (vv. 36-37) I have heard these verses referred to as “tape-recorder verses”. When we come before God to be judged, He has no need to call out our failures. All He has to do is play a tape recorder with our own words condemning ourselves.
This thought certainly rings true for me. I have long been a judgmental person; maybe it’s a natural part of my profession. No need for me to go into details; I have asked forgiveness and asked God to turn me around. These days I look for something good to say to many people that I meet, something like “nice smile” or “nice necklace” or more words than a simple “thank you” or whatever… It makes me feel better about myself (actually, about God’s work in me), and it enhances the day just a bit for the person that I have just complimented. Truly, just yesterday as I left the cubicle where I had the address on my driver’s license changed, the lady to whom I had been assigned said to me, “You made my day!” I also left just that much happier. It’s not hard to find something nice to say.
Blessings!
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