It’s amazing the power of one word.
<p style="padding-left: 30px">One word can heal.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">One word can encourage.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">Also…one word can destroy.</p>
Looking back into scripture, we see the example of words bringing life about. Words created what we live today…even the negative of it. So it should come as no surprise when we discover that one word spoken from our lips…or our fingertips…can demolish our character in a nanosecond.

Stumbling upon this <a href="http://www.thegrio.com/local/chicago/white-chicago-teacher-sues-to-use-n-word-in-class.php" target="_blank">article</a> helped me really take assessment of the words I speak, or have spoken, toward others and myself.

The teacher in question here was noted as stating, in his defense of utilizing a derogatory word in the education environment as a means of teaching his students what is inappropriate.
<p style="padding-left: 30px"><em>"My character has been assassinated."</em></p>
It’s amazing how quickly we humans are apt to jump to conclusions before understanding one’s motive.

Now while the word this teacher used, by societal standards, is derogatory, there must be an intentionally place ourselves in positions of examining a situation…and someone’s character…to determine truth rather than what someone has said. In essence, <strong>it takes character on our parts to help determine another's character.</strong>

We are an imperfect species. Due to a fallen nature that has been within the human race since only moments after the dawn of humanity itself, we are trapped with this innate “gut feeling” to always react rather than respond to situations that ruffle our feathers.

However, scripture clearly informs us to be lead by the Holy Spirit – whose fruits will be revealed through a key character trait that isn’t innate in humans by nature.

Patience.

In always redirecting my nearly four-year old son to have patience, when his little mind and body cry out, <em>“I want it now!”</em>…I have to slow his mind down, have him focus on my eyes and voice and let him know, <em>“Slow down buddy…patience. We need to wait for the things we want.”</em>

<em>“Okay, mommy. I'm sorry.”</em> It is normative response I accrue from him. Yet, most times right now, within five minutes he goes right back to reacting in his nature…rather than using his mind to remember to slow down.

Many of us, including myself, could do with a good dose of this lesson in our own lives to help remind us…
<p style="padding-left: 30px">…slow down.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">…listen.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">…examine.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">…evaluate.</p>
<p style="padding-left: 30px">…wait.</p>
Oh waiting…such a curse word that rings through our ears! How dare anyone ask us to wait…to explain where we are coming from…to not understand us from the moment we speak (or even do something).

The truth is…if we as Christians are to truly operate in His Spirit…we need to be letting our lives reveal the fruit of His Spirit.
<p style="padding-left: 30px"><em>“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, <strong>patience</strong>, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, <strong>self-control</strong>; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires.  <strong>If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit</strong>.” </em>Gal 5:22-25 (NASB)</p>
This situation is a great example of how easy it is in our own spirits, aside from God, to jump to conclusions and assert our beliefs without truly seeking the truth of a matter.

When we take matters completely into our own hands, we will not only misunderstand something of someone else, we will potentially destroy who they are to others. This is not how God operates, and unfortunately I all too often have been privy to moments (either directed at me personally…or toward someone else) where another Christian slanders another based upon one word without truly understanding where that person is coming from.

It’s evident in pulpits too from very well known pastors and church leaders today…and this honestly ails my heart.

Friends, our lives are to be guided by the direction the Holy Spirit gives…and that isn’t by<em> “gut feelings.”</em> There's a distinct difference between a <em>“gut feeling”</em> and knowing when God has directed you to do something (and usually, those somethings go against the grains of what society does, believes and even how it responds).

A great lesson we can take from this situation, as Christians, is this…learn to<strong> lean on Christ through every aspect of our lives – especially moments when another’s character is coming into question.</strong>

We must be diligent about seeking His wisdom above our own findings, beliefs, feeling and evaluations. We must be diligent about slapping everything that crosses our paths – even one single word – up against scripture to see if it is being used in a manner that edifies and glorifies Him (even words that by society’s standards are “unacceptable”). For to anything otherwise, edifies ourselves…and diminishes Him.
<p style="text-align: center">***********************</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><em>“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding.”</em> –Proverbs 3:5 (NASB)</p>
<p style="text-align: center"><em>“Instead, let us test and examine our ways. Let us turn back to the LORD.”</em> –Lam 3:40 (NLT)</p>