My wife Karen has a bit of a Southern accent. This never drew much attention until we moved to Indiana. There she met a friend who had four young boys. Karen occasionally accompanied them on vacation trips.

One trip took them to Dollywood. There they were welcomed by the recorded voice of Dolly Parton herself. After listening to her for a bit, the youngest boy suddenly exclaimed, “She talks just like Karen!”

As he disowned Jesus, Peter claimed to be someone other than who he was. Those who heard his claims replied, “…Surely you are one of them, for your accent gives you away.” (Matthew 26:73).

Usually, it’s not our accent that gives us away; it is the actual words that we speak.

We all make certain claims about who we are and what we believe. Sometimes our words don’t go along with those claims.

Let us make every effort to live consistently. Words matter. Use them carefully.