Proverbs 4:24 Put away deception from your mouth; keep your lips from perverse speech.
There are over 6 billion bacteria, including 700 different species, that reside inside our mouth! There are certain healthy bacteria that work to protect our oral health but there are also harmful bacteria that cause cavities and disease. Hence it is vitally important to brush twice a day, floss and use anti-bacterial mouthwash every day.
As dental health of teeth, gums and facial system is important to the overall wellbeing of a human, ‘oral health’ – the words of our mouth, are indubitably essential for a healthy soul. Most of our problems are birthed through the birth canal of our mouth and the door of our lips. “Your own mouth condemns you, and not I; And your own lips testify against you (Job 15:6). Careless words bring condemnation and unwarranted curses. Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing (Proverbs 12:18). Hence, as we brush our teeth every morning, we must also use mouthwash to cleanse the words of our lips. Speech is a powerful tool to communicate, express and exasperate. It is a gift from God to humanity that no other creation is blessed with. A dog barks when it is happy, crappy or snappy. A parrot repeats what it is taught at all times not knowing where to speak and when to stop. Only humans are blessed with the gift of speech and the discernment to choose the words to speak. The Word of God is the antiseptic mouth disinfectant and antibacterial mouthwash. So, use God’s Word as mouthwash to get rid of the germs and the harmful bacteria that causes foul smell, cavity and sickness.
Mouthwash cleans careless, reckless and senseless words:
- Careless: Careless words condemn and curse. “The tongue has the power of life and death” (Proverbs 18:21). Careless words are hasty spoken words before understanding and casual words spoken without discernment. When we speak and don’t even remember what we have spoken, our words are both careless and casual. Careless words would be butchering the image of another person or tarnishing the reputation or self-esteem of the receiver and would be spoken without any empathy. Tongue has the power to build and break; motivate and demotivate; encourage or enrage. So, wash your mouth with the Word of God to avoid careless, cursing or condemning words.
- Reckless: Reckless words are irresponsible, filthy and silly talk. Let there be no filthiness and silly talk, or coarse [obscene or vulgar] joking, because such things are not appropriate [for believers] (Ephesians 5:4). Inappropriate comments about a person’s figure, dressing or insensitive obscenity or indecent vulgar joking tarnishes, damages and destroys social stature. Gargle the germs of unwholesome talk with the mouthwash of God’s word.
- Senseless: Judgement without discernment is nonsensical. There are people who have an opinion about everything. Those who talk more and listen less or those who start talking before the other person finishes a sentence. They are poor listeners who have forgotten to use mouthwash to clean the germs of foolish and senseless talk. Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry (James 1:19). Judging the intentions without evidence is senseless.
The Word of God is the mouthwash for healthy, wholesome words.
Psalm 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight.
Prayer: Dear Jesus, teach me to rinse my mouth every morning to be free from harmful, demeaning, disparaging and damaging words. Amen.
Leave a Reply