DCLM Higher Everyday 18 June 2025 — He Got More Than Wisdom

TOPIC: A Soft Answer

TEXT: Proverbs 15:1-4

1A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.

2The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright: but the mouth of fools poureth out foolishness.

3The eyes of the LORD are in every place, beholding the evil and the good.

4A wholesome tongue is a tree of life: but perverseness therein is a breach in the spirit.

MEMORY VERSE: “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger” (Proverbs 15:1).

MESSAGE

Two contrasting scenarios in the Book of Judges portray the truth of today’s text. Gideon was challenged by the men of Ephraim and his soft answer averted what could have brought a destructive war (Judges 8:1-3). A few years later, the quarrelsome Ephraimites met their match in an equally short-tempered Jephthah. He was a Gileadite from the tribe of Gad. Rough words flew back and forth, and a devastating war broke out between the two tribes. By the time the dust cleared, 42,000 Israelites were dead (Judges 12:1-6). Speaking the right words would have prevented that.

Also Read: DCLM Higher Everyday 17 June 2025 – He Got More Than Wisdom

The heart and the mouth are connected, therefore grace in the heart produces graciousness in the lips. Graciousness is the ability to speak words that promote peace and harmony in otherwise tense situations. Opportunities to exhibit grace or else bad manners will arise every day in the home, at school, or on the streets. Unsaved youths lose the battle every time; they speak bad words, show rude manners even to elders, they have no respect for anyone. Today is International Day for Countering Hate Speech.

QUOTE: The heart and the mouth are connected.

PRAYER: Set a watch before my mouth, O Lord.

CHALLENGE: Practice graciousness in your speech today.

GOSPEL REALM: STEPS TO SALVATION
1. Admit that you are a sinner. "For all [humans] have sinned, and comes short of the glory of God....[and] the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord" (Romans 3:23)
2. Repent now. "Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out ...[for] if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness " (Acts 3:19, 1 John 1:9)
3. Believe that God loves you and Jesus died for you. "God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet Sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8)
4. Invite Jesus into your life through prayer of faith. Jesus says, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me" (Revelation 3:20)