Has anyone ever hurt your feelings? Taken away your joy, made you cry, held a grudge? What I have come to realize, as the 8th commandment in Exodus 20:15 states, Do not steal, may perhaps not only include material things. When you see a general person, you see material things you can steal from them, jewelry, clothes, shoes, wallets, purses, ect. These things are seen only on the outward appearance. We must remember that we all carry things on our inward appearance as well. Those things are called emotions. Sometimes words spoken to someone can steal their hope, joy, love, trust, among many other things. The bible says that:
Proverbs 13:3
He that keepeth his mouth keepeth his life, but he that openeth wide his lips shall have destruction.
James 3:5 & 8
5 Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 8 but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.
Words can cause destruction in a relationship, and in a friendship. We must be careful what we say, the emotions that we take from someone by the words that we speak to them. Everyone has had their feelings hurt by words, and we are taught as Christians to forgive, and turn the other cheek. While doing that, we forgive, but the relationship may never be the same again, the bible explains why.
Psalm 52:2 Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit.
A cut takes time to heal. You may forgive the person who cut you, but your flesh will remind you by a sting and after healing, a scar. The same way we learn not to touch something hot after getting burned, is the same way it can hurt the trust in a relationship, possibly starting over from scratch, and never reaching the same level of trust again, after they have been cut by words more caution will be taken to protect their heart. That places a stumbling block in the midst of the relationship. The bible also warns us of that.
Romans 14:13 Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.
Sadly, some people have little or no hope left. I wouldn’t want to be the one who steals the last bit of hope, or joy that someone may have by hurting them with words. People do it everyday, and it is not always apparent who is hurting, who needs encouragement. Words cannot be taken back once you speak them. So let our words spoken always be encouraging and loving, walking in the love and way of the Lord as Christ has instructed us to.
If you are one of those who has little or no hope left or if you have been deeply scarred by someones hurtful words, remember a promise that Jesus gives us in the bible. The thief will come to steal from you, satan will use whoever he can to steal from you, but know Jesus has come that we may have life more abundantly, He is the good shepherd and gives His sheep life!
In John 10:10-11 Jesus said, "The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep."
In the name of Jesus, you have the authority to take back what the devil has stolen from you.
John 16:24 "Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.''
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God.
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