by Zach Roll

Engaging in fruitful conversation

You can listen to today’s devotion by clicking on this SoundCloud link

“Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.”
1 Peter 3:10 English Standard Version

Don’t ever let anyone tell you that words don’t hurt. Words can cut deeper, and be a more powerful weapon, than we realize. Our words can either be a source of death, and darkness, or of life, encouragement, and love. God cares about what we say to, and about, others. In fact this is one of the Ten Commandments.

Let your words be an oasis of encouragement and love.

“You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.”
Exodus 20:16 English Standard Version

I want specifically to address the words we use, and how we engage in conversation, on social media.

Social media can be a great thing. It connects us to friends, and family, who may live too far away from us to get together often. There are pages about different interests such as sports, and the arts, where you can discuss your hobbies with people who share that in common with you, people you don’t know.

It can also be one of the most destructive, and harmful, outlets in our interactions with each other. Everyone has a voice on social media, and that brings some good and a lot of bad. When talking politics, especially in today’s climate, you can look on any comments section and see life being denigrated and disrespected. People who don’t know each other say nasty things to other people for no good reason. It’s easy to slander people whom we will probably never see face to face.

Unfortunately, I believe this attitude can follow us to the real world. Such negativity poured out on the internet can have an impact on our real life, face-to-face, interactions. So, I want to encourage all of us to be lights in that darkness. If we are going to enter the dog eat dog world of the comments section, let’s be encouraging with our words. Reaffirm that all people have value in our own eyes, and especially in the eyes of our Lord.

Copyright Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Colorado Springs, Colorado