Lord God, You say that a word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver. Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear. So let no corrupt word proceed out of my mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. By my words I will be justified. The tongue of the wise promotes health. Once, those who feared You, Lord, spoke to one another, and You listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before You for those who fear You and who meditate on Your name. If I take out the precious from the vile, I shall be as Your mouth. But as I abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence—I seek to abound in this grace also. Lord God, only in Your power will I be able to control my tongue. Teach me to speak words of grace always.
COLOSSIANS 4:6; PROVERBS 25:11–12; EPHESIANS 4:29; MATTHEW 12:35, 37; PROVERBS 12:18; MALACHI 3:16; JEREMIAH 15:19; 2 CORINTHIANS 8:7
Dr. David Jeremiah Life-Changing Moments with God
Oh the words we can use. The damage or the uplifting from the orchestrated sounds that make up our vocabulary.
We choose to respond to life in several ways. Uplifting speech, degrading speech and with silence.
Some of the most shameful and shocking things in my life were poorly chosen words.
Things that were never meant that cannot be taken back.
It's referred to as that part of the body that is the hardest to tame. From the mouth comes blessings and cursing. Both the humble in heart and the proud can sound the same depending upon the words used by each.
Words have a way of digging deeper into the flesh than any scourge or other torturous device devised by mankind.
Proverbs mentions that it's better to be silent and thought to be a fool than to open your mouth and remove all doubt.
In other places the tongue was referred to as having the poison of asps under it.
In other places it mentions the need to bridle the tongue.
In many venues Mark Lowry, Christian Comedian, Christian artist and,member of the Gaither Vocal Band, has mentioned that there's many other questions he had not included in "Mary Did You Know?". Questions...if some part of my own life is summed up is that I constantly seek answers to questions. I often think of off-the-wall thoughts. Wondering at the possibilities.
I often wonder what was going through my Savior's mind when He was silent after being condemned by Pilot and the Jews. What sorrow at the knowledge that His beloved creation would rather have Him dead than receive Him. Knowing that in a short while He was going to cry out in His soul to His Father and would be met with silence. That first and only instance of separation between God and His Son.
What was Jesus thinking to Himself during those 3 1/2 years of ministry that are not recorded.
Silence...is loud. Silence speaks volumes. Silence often goes where the soul doesn't want to go.
Our words can either bring people back from the cliffs of despair or push them over the edge.
There's a line in a song, while He was on the cross, I was on His mind. Time was stretching out that day on the cross for Jesus and the 2 criminals. That's the point of crucifixion. Taking a moment of intense agony and drag it out as far as possible.
Our sins needing resolution were what kept Jesus on the cross. Indeed the Devil was not wrong in that the Angels could step in at any time to bring relief. When Jesus was on the cross they stood at a distance. They too living out obedience, not interfering with the obedience of the Son. That Angel who had been with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane was the last until after the Resurrection. Angels and Demons are not in Sheole/Hades at any time. There are demons already condemned there though. They are cut-off from serving Satan. It is a place of the result of condemnation. It is a place of judgment's decision. A place where there is no silence. Words of every tribe, tongue and nation speak out to the God of Heaven to be released. Words from weeping to rage at Jesus for them being there.
Often people are guilty of not thinking before speaking. I readily confess that is a sin of mine.
We are told of the need to encourage others with our speech, love and conduct.
Ephesians 4:29 "Let no unwholesome word come out of your mouth, but if there is any good word for edification according to the need of the moment, say that, so that it will give grace to those who hear."
1 Timothy 4:12 "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith, and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe."
Our words...it matters not the dialect or the language...should be for the need of the moment that it would give grace to those who hear.
Mark Lowry is the writer of "Mary, Did You Know?". I have often thought of the silence of Joseph. Of what questions that I have for him. He was responsible for teaching Jesus! On life, on obedience to God. On getting through puberty even! He was responsible for guiding the Son of God! How do you teach the Lord of all Creation how to be a carpenter? How do you teach the one who spoke the world's into existence how to fish?
We who choose this day whom we will serve, in my house it is the Lord Jesus Christ...need to also pray over our tongues. As do you.
Pray not only for the souls of others but what comes out of their mouths. Look at the opening chapters of the book of Job. What was it he prayed for concerning his children?
Pray over your own mind and tongue today.
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