I am just finishing a book called “12 Ways Your Phone is Changing You” (review to come). One of the almost throwaway comments the author makes is to point to Matthew 12:36-37:

“I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.”” (Matt 12:36–37 HCSB)

Did you see it?  Or were you like me, a little distracted from the fact that Jesus is addressing Pharisees, so obviously this doesn’t apply to me (yep, how wrong is that?!).  What I, and the author, wanted to highlight, is that “people will have to account for every careless word…”

Every. Careless. Word.

Spoken in jest, spoken online, spoken as a joke.  All those words that we used to make others look less so we could look better or wittier or… well whatever.  We will be judged by our words, including, and it turns out especially the careless ones.

Words matter, they matter to Jesus and they should matter to us, both online and in person.  I, for one, am thankful all the more that I am covered by the blood of Jesus as I think of how I used my words this week.