Orange Moon Saturday, July 23, 2022 "Expect the Checks"

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

"Expect the Checks"

   

     As we yield to God our ability to communicate for His glory and the fulfillment of His will, we must "expect the checks."

    "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips" (Psalm 141:3).

  James teaches that we have no independent ability to control our words in a manner that leads to benefit rather than harm.  "The tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell… the tongue can no man tame" (James 3:6; 8).  Thus, we must acknowledge our need, trust our Father, and consistently ask Him to lead us in our communication. 

    Certainly, this involves what we say or write.  Whether in everyday conversation, or in bearing witness to God and His truth, the Holy Spirit must motivate, guide, and empower our communication.  Our need, however, also involves what we do not say, or words the Lord seeks to check before uttered or written.  We must expect this vital process whereby words that may seem good in our head will be curbed by the Spirit of God before we communicate them.  Of course, if you are like me, you may sometimes break through His guardrail, always to harm (whether realized or not).  We therefore do well to expect the checks, and earnestly ask for them in our prayers for words acceptable to God, beneficial to people, and peace-fostering in our hearts.

    "Death and life are in the power of the tongue" (Proverbs 18:21).

    Since we were created and are sustained by One called "The Word," it is not surprising that communication governs the course of our lives (John 1:1).  We live or die by our words, not only in terms of salvation through the Lord Jesus Christ, but in how we live and what we experience every day of our lives.  Be it in prayers offered to God or words expressed to others, we cannot escape the consequence and significance of what we communicate, and what we do not.  Let us expect His leading and enabling to speak and write "the words of this life," and also His expect the checks as the Holy Spirit works to foster life and protect from death (Acts 5:20).

"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).

Weekly Memory Verse

    "We preach not ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord."

 (II Corinthians 4:5)

   

   

   

  

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