Orange Moon Cafe “A Tamed Tongue”

The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe… 

"A Tamed Tongue"

     "The tongue can no man tame" (James 3:8).

    "Set a watch, o Lord, before my mouth.  Keep the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).

    "Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers" (Ephesians 4:29).

    Originally created by One referred to in Scripture as "The Word," we can expect that our capacity to speak will be a central feature of our existence.  It is.  "By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned" (Matthew 12:37).  However, the fact that we cannot tame our tongue means that we must trust our Heavenly Father regarding this matter with great and consistent seriousness.  "Yield your… members unto God as instruments of righteousness unto God" (Romans 6:13).  We thus do well to build an altar in our hearts to be frequently visited, sacrificing our native fleshly tendency to use our tongues for purposes other than the edifying ministry of grace unto others.  

    "Heavenly Father, left to itself, my capacity to speak will not honor You.  I will rather use it for my own selfish interests, which will often lead to the destruction of others rather than their edifying.  I therefore acknowledge that my tongue belongs to You for the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ and the blessing of others.  I trust You to lead me accordingly, and as the Apostle Paul requested, that "utterance may be given unto me" (Ephesians 6:19).  This is my hope for using my tongue in a justifying rather than condemning manner, and this is my confidence, that You will lead and enable me to join the Psalmist, "My mouth shall speak of wisdom" (Psalm 49:3).

    This is indeed our hope, namely, the presence and power of God as revealed in us by the Word Himself, namely, the Spirit of the Lord Jesus.  We have no other option for this part of us that only the Holy Spirit can tame and then impart wisdom rather than foolishness.  Let us visit the altar often in the acknowledgement of the One to whom our tongue belongs, and our utter dependence on His leading to speak in ways that build rather than destroy…

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue."

(Proverbs 18:21)

Weekly Memory Verse

     "Being confident of this very thing, that He which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ."

 (Philippians 1:6)

  

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