If we are made in the image of God (Gen 1: 27) do we have the right to call someone an idiot, or even call ourselves an idiot or stupid, when we get angry with ourselves?  Is that a curse?  Is that not saying to God “you have made an idiot.”  Has God ever made any junk?

     God takes the word very seriously.  In the very beginning (Gen 1:3) God said “Let there be light,” He spoke it into existence.  In (John 1:1) “In the beginning was the word, and the word was with God, and the word was God.”  John 1:14 says “The word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.”   I John 1:1-4 talks about the word of life.  John also says “His name is the word of God” in Rev. 19:13.  In Genesis 3:14 God curses the serpent, and it stands to this very day and in Genesis 4:11 God curses Cain--all with spoken words.        

     Read Deu. 11:26-28 where God gives a choice to the people of Israel--A curse or a blessing.

     John 15:3; Eph 5:25-26--through the word--husbands speaking good, kind words to your wife helps make them holy (this applies to all of us); and Heb. 12: 26 all speak about the spoken word.  Hebrews 12:26--God shook the earth with his voice.  Isaiah 55:10-11 shows us the power our words have once released from our mouths.  It seems that there is great power in our spoken words.  Romans 10:8 -10 says to “confess with your mouth” (speak it out).  We can not even be saved without speaking it.   Matthew 12:36-37 speaks of the power of  our words to condemn us.  This again shows the tremendous power of our spoken words.

     There are not any expletives in the Bible.  In fact, God tells us to “Simply let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes’ and your ‘No,’ ‘No’...” in Matthew 5:37.  Again in Matthew 5:22 we are warned against the words we use toward other people.  It seems that the words that are used are literal and descriptive.  Jesus asked his disciples (Mt. 15:16) “Are you still so dull?”  John also called the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming to where he was baptizing a “brood of vipers.”  Jesus called the canaanite woman a “dog” (Mt. 15:26).  Jesus called the Pharisees a brood of vipers (Matthew 12:34) as well as snakes and a brood of vipers (Matthew 23:33).  John also called the Pharisees and Sadducees who were coming to where he was baptizing a “brood of vipers.”  Jesus also told the Pharisees that their father is the devil (Jn 8:43-44).  Jesus called the Pharisees a liar (Jn 8:55).  How  offensive would that be today?  Obviously, there is a time for bold rebuke. 

     Read James 3 to understand the effect of the words we speak.  How many wounded people are there resulting from what comes out of our mouth?

     How many people do we curse a day, and how many do we bless a day?  I’ll venture to guess the curses out number the blessings.

     Husbands how many times do we curse our wives?  Wives ask yourself the same question.

     Read (Gen 27) about Jacob getting Isaac’s blessing, and how the blessing could not be reversed even if it was received out of deception.  This is a good reminder of the power of our spoken words.

     There is hope--Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse does not come to rest (Proverbs 26:2).

     The Lord gave me a good example of how we all have a choice to bless or to curse every day.  As I was driving down the highway, I came upon some bicyclists.  Normally this would annoy me because the majority of highway bicyclists I have encountered ride in the driving lane and do not move over for me to pass.  But this morning I was in worship with the Lord while listening to worship music as I drove.  I did not have time to even consider the fact that there were some cyclists on my side of the road and in my lane.  I just passed by in total worship with one hand uplifted praising the Lord.  The Lord showed me that if I keep my eyes, my thoughts, and attitude on Him, nothing else around will matter. 

     It is impossible to curse and bless at the same time.  It is your choice--which will you do?