'It's only words'

The Beegees and Boyzone (and many others besides, no doubt!) sang of the power of words. 'It's only words and words are all I have to take your heart away', as though words do not 'say' much! Children may learn the playground rhyme, 'Sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but words can never hurt me', but we all know that is not true. But words are powerful and effective in communicating, and can be seen as the expression of the character within.
James, the brother of Jesus, writes powerfully about the ways all of us must learn to control what we say. 'People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Sometimes it praises our Lord and Father, and sometimes it curses those who have been made in the image of God. And so blessing and cursing come pouring out of the same mouth. Surely, my brothers and sisters, this is not right!' (James 3.7-10)
Jesus reminded his hearers that our speech indicates what is going on inside us. 'A good person produces good things from the treasury of a good heart, and an evil person produces evil things from the treasury of an evil heart. What you say flows from what is in your heart.' (Luke 6.45)
It is striking what sometimes emerges when we are not thinking clearly! 'Fingers crossed, touch wood!' is often said when 'hoping for the best', by people who would claim to be followers of Jesus.
But such superstitious words reveal a profound disconnection between what we say we believe and what we say! Habits like that bring no honour to Christ. The words we say mark us out, so we need to watch what we say.
Best wishes,
Richard