TO CHEW ON: "By faith Moses, when he was born, was hidden three months by his parents, because they saw he was a beautiful child and they were not afraid of the king's command." Hebrews 11:23
I have recently read a book that convicted me of my words and conversations. Stopping Words That Hurt lays bare the fact that not only does gossip pollute the speaker but listening to gossip, complaints, murmurs, and all manner of "evil reports" contaminates the listener.
In the last chapter the author Michael D. Sedler asks probing questions about talk directed to and overheard by our children:
"What conversations occur at your dinner table with young people present? Are the words you speak in your home supportive of authority and leadership, or do you give the subtle impressions that you find it objectionable? How do you speak about your supervisors, your friends, your spouse—all within earshot of little listening ears? Defilement is passed on from one person to another and from one generation to the next" - Michael D. Sedler, Stopping Words That Hurt, Kindle location 2436.
So, it seems, is faith!
Notice how much space the writer of the Hebrews list of the faithful gives to Moses. In six verses he names four instances Moses acted "By faith…" (Hebrews 11:24-29).
Notice too where this faith began. It was with his parents who hid him from Pharaoh's decree (Hebrews 11:23). And I would imagine that during the time Moses' mother performed the duties of nurse (after he was rescued by Pharaoh's daughter), she planted seeds of that same faith in his infant to toddler soil.
The Bible's many instructions to parents about training and educating their children in the ways of God are based on the premise that this training will make a difference and is integral to the adults our children will become. So let's take verses like Proverbs 22:6 and Ephesians 6:4 seriously. Let's build the faith of our children with our words and actions, not confuse and weaken it with contaminating speech.
PRAYER: Dear Lord, "Set a guard over my mouth; Keep watch over the door of my lips" - Psalm 141:3. Help me to be a parent and grandparent whose words about You and others reveal a consistent, unhindering faith. Amen.
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The Holy Bible, New King James Version Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. - Used with permission.
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