The Plumbline

A tender answer turns away rage, but a prickly reply spikes anger. (Proverbs 15:1 VOICE) It was John F. Kennedy who said, "We must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them." The words we live by are more than words - they are a testimony to the grace and love of God within us, or the selfishness and pride that wells up when a soul isn't serving Christ. The more we live by truth instead of just speaking it, the more we will see the lives of those around us impacted by the 'words we live'.  John Maxwell reminds us, "People may hear your words, but they feel your attitude." This is never truer than when we display an unkind or selfish attitude. The words might be 'kind' or 'understanding', but if the attitude behind them is sarcastic, they can be viewed as unkind. Sarcasm is often used because someone wants to be funny, but it can also become a weapon that brings hurt to the heart of one hearing ...