ACT 10: GOLDEN APPLES

MARCH 15, 2022

We have talked about this before, but reminders are always worthwhile. Our words have immense capacity for good. When we use them encouragingly, generously, and genuinely, there are few things that have more power. A timely word can change the course of someone's day, or even someone's life. Use words wisely.

Proverbs 18:21

Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.

Ephesians 4:29

Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear.

Proverbs 16:24

Gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.

Proverbs 15:4

A gentle tongue is a tree of life ….

Proverbs 25:11

A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.

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"A word fitly spoken," says Proverbs 25:11, ’is like apples of gold in a setting of silver.’ Other versions have “golden apples in a silver basket” or “on a silver tray”. A shining, striking image that portrays the effect of good words: they create a relationship and invite more words to be echoed in reply, “like the light between two beautiful reflective surfaces.” Generous words given to us become words that can flow out generously to others.

Jesus, too, is a great giver of golden apples. “You are the salt of the earth,” he told the group of uncertain fishermen who followed him around; “you are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:13–14 NIV). Later, as he was about to leave them, he told the same group of people that he called them his friends, that he had chosen them to bear fruit, and that they should love one another (John 15:14–17).

Jesus’ generous words are meant for each of us who follow him today, too. If we let them take root in us, they will produce the fruit that he promises, and then we will give those promises to someone who needs it: Generous Words: “golden apples, on a silver tray.”

Hebrews 10:24

24 And let us consider

how we may spur one another on

toward love and good deeds, ..."

Grab a stack of Post-it notes or sticky labels, and write down some one-line encouragements. Then stick them up around your house, your workplace, or your neighborhood for other people to find.

Each day try to give three verbal encouragements. Make them genuine and appropriate.

Grab some chalk and head for the streets. Find a patch of pavement and get creative: write a public message of encouragement for everyone to see. This will brighten someone’s day. A great act to do with kids, too!