May 30, 2025

Matthew 12:33-37 (HCSB)
A Tree and Its Fruit
33 “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree is known by its fruit. 34 Brood of vipers! How can you speak good things when you are evil? For the mouth speaks from the overflow of the heart. 35 A good man produces good things from his storeroom of good, and an evil man produces evil things from his storeroom of evil. 36 I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. 37 For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”

Katie Bynum
Jesus teaches that our words reflect the state of our hearts. This is a powerful reminder about how our online words and interactions are a direct reflection of who we are inside, and they have consequences, both now and in eternity. Remember, one day you will have to answer to your Father about those ugly, mean comments that you thought were important to post because you cared more about tearing someone down than being Christ-like. There have been many times that I have typed out a heated response and I simply deleted it. I had to step back and think about if those words were coming from my heart or from a negative place. The words we type online hold great weight. They’re not just random or inconsequential—they reveal what’s in our hearts and can have a lasting impact on others. This passage teaches us that we should be mindful of the words we use, online or offline, because they reflect who we truly are and will have consequences, whether in this life or the next.