Careless Word – Isaiah 1:18

Wake Up Call

“And I say to you, that every careless word that men shall speak, they shall render account for it in the day of judgment.” (Matthew 12:36)

Have you ever carelessly said something that you would give the world to retract? I’ve got one in particular that I’ll never forget because it had such far reaching results and I was to blame.

In idle conversation with someone I mentioned a couple we both knew who were divorcing. From the way she perked up I realized my friend had more than passing interest. Why had I let out this tidbit? I knew perfectly well there had been an illicit relationship in the past between the two though they had not seen or heard of each other now for years.

My friend immediately called the husband to “console” him and that led to her own marriage ending and a new (and disastrous) marriage to this man, which also ended. The whole affair created more ripple effects than I care to mention.

“What if…” I’ve said to myself a thousand times. What if I would have gotten off the phone when there was nothing productive left to say? What if I would have just kept my mouth shut?

In the day of judgment I know I will have to account for this careless word and I don’t have a clue how I can justify it. Of course I’ll say once more how sorry I am. Best after that to simply point God to his own words which are never careless: “‘Come now, and let us reason together,’ says the Lord, ‘though your sins are as scarlet, they will be as white as snow.'” (Isaiah 1:18)

 

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