Words Have Power: have we barred the gate?

"An offended brother (or sister) is more unyielding than a fortified city, and disputes are like the barred  gates of a citadel. The tongue has the power of life and death"  Proverbs 18:19,21 

Words. 

Our Words. My words. 

The words of others. 

We've been both the offender and the offended. 

Ill spoken words often lead to disputes. 

In our marriages, our families, our friendships, our churches. 

It is often not our intent, but offense and division are often the results. 

A citadel was a strong building in or near a city fortified as the primary place of defense. A place where people could shelter for safety. 

Protection. Safety. Shelter. 

Our ill spoken words, our disputes disrupt this purpose. They offer anything but. 

They bar the gate. 

These disputes solidify division between ourselves and others. 

Within our homes, our churches. 

We've barred the gates of what was to be a place of safety, where others find shelter. Instead we've discouraged approach. We keep others out. 

Alternatively, we've trapped others in. They suffer the effects of sharp words, divisions, and disputes. Instead of protection they gain imprisonment. Instead of safety, fear. 

Our homes, our families, our churches, our relationships are meant to be a refuge, a safe place, a God-honoring "city of peace". how can we do this if we're driving people out of our lives and away from our homes and churches with divisive words and disputes? 

Our tongues have the power of life and death. 

Are we speaking life or death into our families? our homes? over our children? in our churches? Are the words we speak contributing to divisive disputes or life and healing? 

I speak to myself. 

I speak to my family.

I speak to my sisters.

His Word speaks to all of us. 

May our words be a wise, fresh balm. May they be truth, bringing peace to our relationships and honor to God.