READ: 1 Peter 3:10-13
“Let…evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice“ – Ephesians 4:31
Evil speaking is all forms of speech that are sinful. It includes things like criticizing, murmuring, flattering, maligning, backbiting, lying and slandering.
Evil speaking is very common and affects the outcome of your life. People do not realize how their lives are destroyed by the negative things that they say. All through the Bible you will see God responding to things that people say. When Miriam criticized Moses, the Bible says, “And the Lord heard it…” (Numbers 12:2). It looks like God listens to our conversations.
Evil speaking can shorten your life. All forms of evil speaking can minister death to you. Lies will kill you. Murmuring will kill you. Murmuring killed all the Jews in the wilderness. Flattery will be exposed for the hypocrisy that it is and the flatterer will be eliminated.
“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof” (Proverbs 18:21).
Evil speaking is a product of evil thoughts. “Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34). If you keep thinking evil things you will soon speak them forth. Is there anything good? Is there anything praiseworthy? Is there anything nice? Is there anything lovely? Think on these things. What you think about will eventually come out through your mouth.