The apostle Paul loved making lists! He made lists of spiritual gifts, fruits of the Spirit, and things we should avoid. But in one special list, he put things in order of importance. In 1 Corinthians 13:13, he listed the three most important things in the Christian life: faith, hope, and love. And guess which one he said was the MOST important? Love!

If love is the greatest thing ever, then our words should definitely be filled with love! The Bible tells us that our words have incredible power. They can bring life or death to a person’s spirit (Proverbs 18:21). That’s pretty serious!

Have you ever noticed how good it feels when someone says something kind to you? Maybe they complimented your new haircut, told you that you did a great job on something, or said they enjoyed spending time with you. Those loving words probably made you smile and feel happy all day!

But have you also noticed how much it hurts when someone says something mean? Mean words can make us feel sad, angry, or embarrassed for a really long time. That’s because words really do have the power of life and death!

Since love is the greatest thing in the Christian life, shouldn’t all our words be spoken with love? Instead of saying things that tear people down, we can choose words that build people up and show them God’s love.

Take Action: Become a “life-giving words” detective! For one whole day, pay attention to every word that comes out of your mouth. Are you speaking words that make people feel loved and encouraged? Or are you saying things that hurt or discourage others? At the end of the day, ask God to help you speak more life-giving words tomorrow. Then practice giving at least three genuine compliments or encouraging words to people around you!