Tuesday, January 27, 2015

“The Matter of Words” Part 2


    Of all the ways in which we depend on our Lord - "Without Me, ye can do nothing" - none more press us to trust Him than His enabling us to speak in a manner befitting His glory and our benefit.

    "The tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison" (James 3:8).
    
    Little wonder that David asked God to "set a watch, o Lord, before my mouth.  Keep the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).  Words are elemental to our very being, distinguishing us from all other earthly creatures.  Thus, left to the motivations and devices of our fallen flesh, our tongue will poison rather than edify - "In the multitude of words, there wanteth not sin" (Proverbs 10:19).  Note that James' aforementioned warning about words references believers, beginning his treatise with, "My brethren…" (James 3:1).  We must therefore determine to consciously, decisively, and regularly commit our tongue to our Heavenly Father for His taming since we cannot do it in and of ourselves.  

    "Heavenly Father, thank You for this amazing gift of the capacity to speak You gave to us, reflecting so beautifully the truth that we were originally created in Your image.  We thank You also that by Your Spirit, we can utter words in such a manner that they shine forth as "apples of gold, in pictures of silver" (Proverbs 25:11).  We acknowledge, however, the danger that lies in our tongue.  How often it's deadly poison has proceeded from the words we have spoken, and how obvious it is that we ourselves cannot tame it.  We acknowledge our sin in much contrition and repentance, and we thank You for Your promised forgiveness and cleansing through the Lord Jesus Christ.  Moreover, we commit our tongue to You in this day for Your watch, Your keeping, and Your enabling to speak in a manner that glorifies our Savior, benefits our sphere of influence, and guides us in love, truth, and righteousness.  We confess our complete dependence, and even more, Your perfect dependability.  May the living Word, the Lord Jesus, flow in life-giving blessedness through our words, Father, as Your Spirit provides both utterance and restraint.  We pray in the name of the Lord Jesus, Amen."

"We, having the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken, we also believe and therefore speak."
(II Corinthians 4:13)
"The tongue of the just is as choice silver… The mouth of the just bringeth forth wisdom… The tongue of the wise is health… The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright (Proverbs 10:20; 31; 12:18; 15:2)

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