The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
"The Pen of a Ready Writer"
"My tongue is the pen of a ready writer" (Psalm 45:1).
The Psalmist seems to mix his imagery. We do not think of ourselves as writing with our tongues. However, what we say does imprint itself upon the hearts and minds of hearers, along with how we say it.
"A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver" (Psalm 25:11).
"His words were… drawn swords" (Psalm 55:21).
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).
Because we were created by One called "the Word," we can be sure that what we say bears far more weight, significance, and consequence than we can imagine (John 1:1; 14). This blessedly includes words that administer life by the content, intent, and tone of our speech. A tongue submitted to the Holy Spirit and empowered by Him graces hearers with communication that first sounds upon the ears, and then writes upon the heart. What may the effect of such communication be in terms of both time and eternity? Only God knows, but we can be sure that fitly spoken words fulfill the Psalmist's beautiful depiction of "apples of gold… in pictures of silver."
Conversely, unfitly spoken words that proceed from our flesh do great harm. They also linger in the hearts and minds of hearers, writing distortion, distraction, and discouragement upon their souls. Solomon warns us that death lies in the power of the tongue, a dire potential confirmed by James, who declares that a tongue uncontrolled by the Holy Spirit is "set on fire of hell" (James 3:6). Thus, we seek always to acknowledge the consequence of what we say and how we say it, and of the need for our words to be led by "the Word" (John 1:1-3).
We will write upon hearts today by our words. What we say and how we say it will help or harm in our hearers' journey toward eternity. Only the leading and enabling of the Holy Spirit can ensure we will grace the hearts of others with life rather than death. We therefore do well to direct our voices Heavenward, joining the Psalmist in seeking the power of God to direct our "tongue of a ready writer…"
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in Thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer."
(Psalm 19:14)
"Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers."
(Ephesians 4:29)
Weekly Memory Verse
"For Thou, LORD, hast made me glad through Thy work: I will triumph in the works of Thy hands."
(Psalm 92:4)
6529
No comments:
Post a Comment