The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
(For our youngest daughter Emmie, who serves as a shining example of one who understands the truth that follows).
“The Tongue: Death Or Life”
“I complained and…
If we have never read this verse, how might we expect the Psalmist to proceed after acknowledging complaint?
“I felt much better, having gotten things off my chest!”
“I was encouraged!”
“I served as a great blessing to others.”
“I found my faith in God greatly furthered and strengthened.”
Of course, none of these accurately reflect the true result of expressing discontent.
“I complained… and my spirit was overwhelmed” (Psalm 77:3; emphasis added).
"Death and life are in the power of the tongue” (Proverbs 18:21). Certainly, we may discuss our troubles and concerns in seeking to effectively address them. Doing so with complaint, however, betrays an attitude that reveals consequential and catastrophic failure to factor God and His involvement into our challenges. Complaining flows from the murky and poisoned waters of unbelief in our Lord’s promised presence and pointed working in all things of our lives. As the Apostle Paul’s cherished assurance declares of such grace, “all things work together for good to them that love God” (Romans 8:28). Complaining reveals we have not affirmed such grace in the heart, resulting in words that reflect frustration rather than faith. “Out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh” (Matthew 12:34).
We cannot possibly walk in faithful fellowship with God with an overwhelmed spirit. Nor can we serve as a blessing to others. Death lurks in “the power of the tongue.” Complaint kills, that is, the believer can put to death our capacity to avail ourselves of God’s presence and the life that also resides in “the power of the tongue.” Thankfully, the detour can and must be temporary as we repent of our sin in the confidence and confession that results in forgiveness and cleansing (I John 1:9). An overwhelmed spirit thereby becomes a pardoned and liberated spirit that results in faithfulness to Paul’s mandate that determines so much of our Christian life…
“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).
Complaint corrupts. Edifying speech that builds rather than destroys ministers grace to the hearers. This includes our own ears that hear the words of our mouth and thereby transmit encouragement to our hearts. The matter involves life and death, that is, of our spirits either being overwhelmed or “strengthened with might by His Spirit in the inner man” (Ephesians 3:16). Little wonder then that David offered one of the most vital prayers recorded in the Bible, regarding one of the most vital aspects of our walk with God and people…
“Lord, I cry unto Thee, make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto Thee. Let my prayer be set forth before Thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice. Set a watch, o Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”(Psalm 141:-3)
Weekly Memory Verse
“He that is entered into His rest, he also hath ceased from his own works”
(Hebrews 4:10)
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