Ripe or Rotten Fruits?
Welcome to the verse mapping/scripture cross-referencing adventure!
"The tongue has the power of life and death, those that love it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:21 NIV
I tell you what, I could go on and on with scripture references for this verse, so I did my best to choose ones that I felt the Spirit led me to! Let's dig deeper into this verse and see what else God is telling us by letting scripture interpret scripture!
The tongue
Scripture cross-references:
Proverbs 15:4 "The soothing tongue is a tree of life, but a perverse tongue crushes the spirit."
Psalm 16:9 "keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies."
Proverbs 12:18 "The words of the reckless pierce like swords, but the tongue of the wise brings healing."
Proverbs 17:28 "Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues."
Proverbs 21:23 "Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity."
has the power
noun: ability to produce an effect; legal or official authority; possession of control, authority or influence over others
2 Corinthians 12:9 "But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me."
Psalms 68:34 "Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the heavens."
2 Timothy 1:7 "For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline."
**my note: the power here acts from a place of love and self-discipline, so though we have the power, we not not wield it around haphazardly! We are to "do all things in love" and have self-discipline before speaking a word into the atmosphere. Be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to anger!
Isaiah 40:29 "He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak."
**note: because when we are WEAK, we are STRONG in HIM!
of life
noun: ability to grow, change
Mark 8:35 "For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me and for the gospel will save it."
Romans 8:6 "The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace."
Matthew 10:39 "Whoever finds their life will lose it, and whoever loses their life for my sake will find it."
Luke 21:19 "Stand firm, and you will win life."
or death
noun: end of life; permanent end of something; the ruin or destruction
James 1:15 "Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death."
Romans 6:23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Isaiah 25:8 "he will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign Lord will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove his people’s disgrace from all the earth."
those that love
verb: take pleasure in
Romans 5:8 "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
it will eat
verb: 1) bear the expense of; 2) consume gradually, CORRODE
Genesis 2:17 "but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for when you eat from it you will certainly die.”
Ecclesiastes 2:25 "for without him, who can eat or find enjoyment?"
Psalm 128:2 "You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours."
Isaiah 1:19 "If you are willing and obedient, you will eat the good things of the land;"
its fruit.
Galatians 5:22-23 "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. "
Matthew 7:17 "Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit."
John 15:4 "Remain in me, as I also remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me."
Matthew 3:8 "Produce fruit in keeping with repentance."
Matthew 7:20 "Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them."
This is a very convicting scripture for me. I know that God has given me the gift of words, especially written...but that is a weighty gift, if you really think about it. I have witnessed strengths in myself quickly be turned into sin as I lean into MY strength and not relying upon God's strength. I can use my words to encourage one minute, calling forth the good I see and then turn around and use my words like a knife cutting straight to the heart in malice.
Why mention that? Well, it makes me really stop and think before I speak. I remember that the power of my words MATTER and can cause hope to soar or be crushed in an instant.
Our words have the power to stop the enemy in his tracks! Let us not forget that we do not have to put up with his shame tactics, his LIES and attempts to trip us up. We can use the power in us by the Holy Spirit to cast out demons and proclaim God's promises in our lives!
What verses stuck out to you? Take a minute and explore those on your own and see where God leads you!
So, what kind of fruit are you eating these days? Ripe with life, or rotten to the core? Choose wisely, friends!
Happy Digging!
