Eight Words Not Used Enough

As Christians, I suggest there are words, phrases, or comments we should use in our daily vocabulary. There are three things consisting of eight words that I believe could be said more frequently to our spouses, friends, brethren, parents, children and so on that are important words our Lord is pleased to hear them said. Let us take a look at these three phrases and their importance in a Christian’s life.

I’m Sorry: In most prayers to our Father we generally always ask for forgiveness of sins. But how often do we say these two words one to another? Even in the world it is seldom said, when a driver accidently cuts off another driver, it quickly turns to road rage and someone is shot and killed. Hopefully a Christian would smile, wave, and mouth “I’m Sorry”
James tells us to “confess our faults one to another” (5:16) and the world needs to hear and see our humility. Pride causes arguments, but saying “I’m sorry” can save friendships, marriages, and could keep a soul out of hell fire!

I Forgive You: Have we ever said or heard it said, “I forgive you but I’m not going to forget what you did to me”? I suggest that attitude toward forgiving is simply just holding a grudge. David stated in Psalm 103:12 “As far as the east is from the west, so far hath He removed our transgressions from us”. That should be our attitude when saying “I forgive you”. Let us keep what Jesus warns us of in Matthew 6:14-15, “For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you; but if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses”. Again, pride leads to holding grudges, but saying “I forgive you” can save friendships, marriages, and keep a soul out of hell fire!

I Love You: These three words hold enormous power in them. Love can change hearts, love can say “I’m sorry”, love can say “I forgive you”. Do any of us say “I love you” enough? In our public prayers do we hear it said to God and to His son? Do we tell our spouses, our parents, our children, or even our brethren those three beautiful words? In hard times we can easily say “keep the faith” or “hold on to our hope”, but what about “I love you”?
Keep in mind what the apostles Paul told us in the love chapter 1 Corinthians 13:13, “and now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three, but the greatest of these is charity”. Being able to say “I love you” can save friendships, marriages, and keep a soul out of hell fire!
There are probably many words and phrases a Christian does not use enough such as “can I help you?”, “thank you”, “do you need anything?”, but the eight words we just spoke of, I suggest, are very important in our salvation and pleasing the Lord. Take a moment, we can all probably think of someone we can say “I’m sorry”, “I forgive you”, and “I love you” to. Remember, these eight words can save a friendship, marriage, or most importantly, keep a soul out of hell fire!

By Victor Studdard

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