”I know you believe you understand what you think I said, but I am not sure you realize that what you heard is not what I meant.” This double talk saying is seen in many offices and usually produces a smile since it is true that what we think we said and what people think about what we said are so often different.

Our words are very important. Jesus said that ”by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.” Moses, the meekest man in all the world, spoke in advisedly with his lips and as a result was barred from entering the promised land with the children of Israel. What he said was spoken in a time of trial when the angry mob was pressing in upon him because they were thirsty. Just the same, he said the wrong thing and had to suffer the consequences. Lovable impetuous Peter was the one who spoke before he thought and as a result he wept bitterly.

It is important that we think before we speak. It is important that we speak clearly so that others will know what we mean by what we say. There was a famous entertainer who is now dead who was well known for his double talk routine. It was entertaining but it certainly did not edify. Are we sometimes guilty of double talk? Do people know where we stand and what we stand for? Is our speech ”always with grace, seasoned with salt” as Paul exhorts?

The gift of speech is a wonderful gift and we are apt to take it for granted. Like many other things, we usually do not appreciate something unless it is lost or is in danger of being lost. Think a minute about John the Baptist’s father, Zacharias. He was dumb and could not utter a word for about nine months. One moment he could converse and the next not a sound would come out. For nine long months it was like this. When he could speak again, what did he say? Did he complain and go on about how terrible it was not to be able to talk? Did he ask for pity? No, he praised God. He used his voice to glorify his Creator who had struck him dumb and had opened his mouth. He lived out the truth expressed by Job, that ”the Lord gives and the Lord taketh away; blessed be the name of the Lord.” Zacharias followed the example of David who said, ”Let everything that hath breath praise the Lord. My mouth shall speak the praise of the Lord. Let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.”

Do we use our breath to praise the Lord? Are our lips constantly blessing our Heavenly Father? James tells us how inconsistent it is for our mouth to bless one minute and curse the next. He says, ”out of the same mouth proceedeth blessings and cursing. My brethren, these things out not so to be.” We know they ought not be so, but we have to admit that they sometimes are so. James asks us a personal question. ”Who is wise and understanding among you?” We don’t need a high IQ to answer this question. All we need is the sincere desire to serve God. It is not the wise of the world James is addressing, it is the simple folk who are dedicated to Jesus. James then gives a good piece of advice to everyone who will answer with a ”yes” or at least with a ”here am I, I’m trying.” He says to us ”By your good life show your works in the meekness of wisdom.”

Let us then join in the prayer of David. ”Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, 0 Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”