Acts 22:17-23 (NLT)
17"One day after I returned to Jerusalem, I was praying in the Temple, and I fell into a trance. 18I saw a vision of Jesus saying to me, `Hurry! Leave Jerusalem, for the people here won't believe you when you give them your testimony about me.'
19" `But Lord,' I argued, `they certainly know that I imprisoned and beat those in every synagogue who believed on you. 20And when your witness Stephen was killed, I was standing there agreeing. I kept the coats they laid aside as they stoned him.'
21"But the Lord said to me, `Leave Jerusalem, for I will send you far away to the Gentiles!' "
22The crowd listened until Paul came to that word; then with one voice they shouted, "Away with such a fellow! Kill him! He isn't fit to live!" 23They yelled, threw off their coats, and tossed handfuls of dust into the air.

Paul, while he had been praying in the temple, had been given a divine commission to go and preach the gospel to the Gentiles. He was told the people in Jerusalem would not believe his testimony. And as Paul related his testimony to the people he finally got to the point where he said he was to give the message to the Gentiles. And with that one word, “Gentiles”, the crowd became boisterous and ready to kill Paul.

One word can sometimes change the whole atmosphere of a conversation. One word can set the tone of a meeting where people are relaxed and comfortable or put on edge and unsure of what is to take place. One word can mean the difference in letting someone know you care about them versus whether you have forgotten about them all together. One word makes the difference in letting someone know you are sorry. One word lets someone know that you love them. James 3:2 says, “We all make many mistakes, but those who control their tongues can also control themselves in every other way.” Have you learned to use care in controlling the words you use towards others? Have you thought about the effects they might have? Pray that God would help you understand the impact your words might have in this world. Ask for guidance when you speak to others that you might not offend or hurt others unknowingly. Pray you will always be uplifting and honoring to the Lord.