Every person bears God's image and deserves respect, especially in what you say about them when they're not listening. Insults come from anger and hurt. Instead, speak blessings about others so that if your words get back to them, they're good.
Do you realize that when you insult someone, wish harm upon them, criticize them unfairly, that you are speaking that way about someone created in the image of God? The same Holy Spirit in you is the Holy Spirit in them. And we speak these things out of anger. We speak these things out of hurt. We speak these things out of frustration. What kind of words are you speaking over your loved ones, over your fellow church members, over coworkers? My prayer is that the Holy Spirit would inspire in us words that are life-giving, not cursing people, but blessing them. Not slandering people, but speaking well of them. I challenge you today to talk good behind someone's back. And if anybody ever hears that you've been talking about them, may it be that they heard that you said something good about them.
