Speech on the web

Lately I have come across so many thoughtless, hurtful and highly suspect "words", particularly on social networking sites like Facebook. By giving status updates about all the complaints and personal injuries one has against others, I am wondering if we are simply disregarding God's instructions for our speech by excusing our "web words" as not really being speech. It would seem that we are so quick to air our dirty laundry all over the place, compelled to share it urgently and openly with anyone willing to listen. Furthermore, we really don't even ask if anyone wants to hear, we just type! While I appreciate so much the many thoughtful blogs, helpful websites, and even the encouraging connections that can be made on sites like Facebook, it is quite clear that oftentimes more harm is being done than good. I have learned this lesson the hard way in my own life, regretting an email sent or a message forwarded. Looking back, there were times I wanted to just hit "delete" only to realize there was no way to delete it from someone's mind once they had seen it. When we get ready to type something and hit the "send" or "post" button, let us one last time read carefully what we have composed and hold it up to the light of Philippians 4:8 - "Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Now if Paul is admonishing us to think on such things, then imagine how much more we should be speaking of such things. It is so hard to train our thoughts onto right things, things of Christ, and His redemption and His forgiveness...His mercy and compassion in the midst of trying times. Our words are a reflection of our thoughts. So if I am posting things that are at all untrue, dishonorable, unjust, impure, ugly, grumbling, a bad report...then that is a reflection of my heart and my mind. May the Lord guard us carefully from such things, for it is a serious matter to put something out there for others to see, where it can be misinterpreted, altered and repeated, or at best, simply not exalting Christ and His work in our lives. It is sad that I can take one look at someones status update or read a short email and immediately sense frustration, bitterness, unforgiveness, discontentment. Is the Lord pleased by such things? Is His name made great upon the earth by such things? I may sound trivial right now, but God has commanded us to glorify Him in ALL things! Take heed so that you will not want to take back...Don't lost heart though, there is a remedy. What opportunities have you had today to glorify God? What special blessings has God provided for you? What ways can you use your internet speech to draw others to Christ by exalting the Gospel? What opportunities have you passed up to bring praise to God for all the small ways that He has caused you to persevere, for His abundant showing of forgiveness for all your sins? These are the things that I would encourage you to reflect on. What is your status in Christ Jesus our Lord?