Have you ever spoken out some words and immediately regretted it. A faux par’ – a slip or blunder in etiquette, manners, or conduct; an embarrassing social blunder or indiscretion. And in your mind you imagine all sorts of ways to recall the words and shovel them back into your mouth like spaghetti by the fistful? But it’s all too late… it’s out there…groan.
It is important that we do weigh our words carefully. Built into us all is a conscience and that’s why you faltered at the moment of the faux par’.
God created us with a conscience. Unfortunately, as we get away with certain phrases, or swear words, or discriminatory comments, our conscience can be corrupted or desensitised.
This is why Paul wrote to the Ephesians and gave them some helpful instruction as to how they could live. Just one of those good tips is:
Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
Ephesians 4:29
What a great measure.
Today we not only need to apply that to what we speak but also to what we write in social mediums like Facebook, Twitter, etc. Also with today’s technology, and the ability to propagate photos and video clips instantaneously, we may need to consider the same measure.
When I wrote the above my conscience was challenging me. What does your conscience speak to you about when you read the above? Will you listen to it?