Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of armies! (Isaiah 6:5)
It amazes me that when Isaiah saw the Lord that the sin he was most aware of in his life had to do with his speech.
He was confessing the evil, not only of his tongue, but of the tongues he lived among on earth. He did not lament that he dwelled among a people of sexual immorality, murder, or idolatry. What he said, and what the people said — their conversation — horrified him before the King.
We should take inventory of ourselves: Look for the hasty words, cursing words, violent words, lustful words, blaspheming words, false words, lying words, gossiping words, flattering words, harsh and belittling words.
Jesus had a very strong statement on this very issue.
“I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.” (Matthew 12:36-37)
