The Special of the Day… From the Orange Moon Cafe…
“The Tongue: Death and Life”
As those created by the Christ referred to in Scripture as "The Word," we would expect that our words would greatly influence on the course of our lives (John 1:1-3). Over and over in the book of Proverbs, Solomon tells us they do:
"The tongue of the wise useth knowledge aright… A man hath joy by the answer of his mouth… Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Proverbs 15:2; 23; 18:21).
James echoes in the New Testament the controlling influence of the tongue. "If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body" (James 3:2). How we speak about life - beginning with relationship to God, and proceeding to all things - determines the course of our existence. Our salvation involves utterance - "If thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus… thou shalt be saved" (Romans 10:9). We then live the Christian life in the light of our Lord's redeeming grace, which leads to corresponding words - "Let the redeemed of the Lord say so" (Psalm 107:2). Little wonder that the Apostle Paul requested prayer regarding utterance, and the Psalmist also besought the Lord to "set a watch before my mouth, keep the door of my lips" (Ephesians 6:19; Psalm 141:3).
Let us make this personal and pertinent. Are there matters of life about which we do not speak in terms of God's Truth as revealed in Scripture? This especially involves challenges, problems, difficulties, and pains. The default position of our flesh tempts us to complaint, or expressions of bewilderment and even despair. If we succumb to the enticement, we chart a course of joylessness and lack of peace as "the power of the tongue" leads to death rather than life. "I complained and my spirit was overwhelmed" (Proverbs 77:3). Most importantly, we dishonor our Lord by ignoring His involved presence and working on our behalf in all things. Certainly we can talk about the challenges of life. However, we must seek our Lord and His grace, ensuring that we speak from the foundation of His Truth and our determination to believe He really does "work all things together for good to them that love Him" (Romans 8:28).
Throughout Scripture, the recurrent theme of what we say and how we say it calls us to the realization that words are central to our existence. Again, this is just as we would expect in light of the Word who made us and sustains our being. No greater challenge confronts us, and no aspect of our walk with the Lord more requires the leading and enabling of His Spirit. We cannot independently control our own verbal capacity - "the tongue can no man tame" (James 3:8). We can, however, consistently commit our capacity to speak to our Heavenly Father regarding this vital aspect of our existence. The recurrent Biblical theme regarding words beckons us to the recurrent prayerful theme in our hearts that leads us to seek God's grace and control of our tongue. Solomon tells us we live by the tongue, or die thereby. Nothing in our walk with God is more important, and nothing will more honor Him as He empowers us to speak in a manner that reflects the Word who made us, and who enlivens us as we walk in the light of "all the words of this life” (Acts 5:20).
"The preparations of the heart in man, and the answer of the tongue, is from the Lord."
(Proverbs 16:1)
"The tongue of the wise is health."
(Proverbs 12:18)
Weekly Memory Verse
And without controversy great is the mystery of godliness: God was manifest in the flesh, justified in the Spirit, seen of angels, preached unto the Gentiles, believed on in the world, received up into glory.
(I Timothy 3:16)
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