GOD HELP US TO”WATCH OUR WORDS”.
How conscious we are of Jeremiah’s words in 17:9 NLT The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who can really know how bad it is?
We and all mankind have inherited this deceitful and desperately wicked heart all because Adam & Eve sinned in the garden of Eden. We sure thank God that because of the Ministry of the Holy Spirit, and God choosing us before the foundation of the world, and Christ coming into our life, we now have a heart that wants to please God, but we still have a sinful nature and we have to know and understand and appropriate every aspect of our glorious inheritance purchased for us through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ. This is why Biblical Discipleship is so important, otherwise it can be years of defeat and frustration and disappointment and even backsliding if we do not know how we can live in victory and fulfil the purposes of God in our generation.
The Bible has so much to say about our heart and mind, and these two are so closely linked. There are so many important keys we need to learn, and I want to just highlight one very important aspect today in this blog.
THIS RELATES TO OUR TONGUE
You have probably heard the saying PLEASE PUT BRAIN IN GEAR BEFORE OPENING MOUTH. How often over the years we have regretted we did not do this, and the harm and hurt it has caused to others as well as ourselves can make us very discouraged.
Jesus tells us in Matt. 12:34 NKJV How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
In Matt. 15:18 NKJV we read But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies. These are the things which defile a man.
Most of us know Solomon’s words in Prov. 18:21 NLT The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
sadly, so many Believers hide behind their sinful nature and deceitful heart, and refuse to take personal blame or responsibility for their actions.
LISTEN TO PAUL’S WORDS IN COLOSSIANS 4:6
NKJV Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with SALT, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.
N.L.T. Let your conversation be GRACIOUS AND ATTRACTIVE so that you will have the right response for everyone.
PASSION Let every word you speak be DRENCHED WITH GRACE and tempered with truth and clarity. For then you will be prepared to give a respectful answer to anyone who asks about your faith.
MESSAGE Be gracious in your speech. The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out.
It is so interesting that Paul uses the word, SALT as we sure know when salt has not been added (or not enough) the food is far from tasteful.
HOW CAN WE DO IT?
Col. 3:16-17 NKJV Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.
PASSION Let the word of Christ live in you richly, flooding you with all wisdom. Apply the Scriptures as you teach and instruct one another with the Psalms, and with festive praises, and with prophetic songs given to you spontaneously by the Spirit, so sing to God with all your hearts!
MESSAGE Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.
LISTEN TO THE PSALMIST
Psalm 119:11 NLT I have hidden your word in my heart ,that I might not sin against you.
Psalm 119:16 Passion My delight is found in all your laws, and I won’t forget your words.
Psalm 119:148 NKJV My eyes are awake through the night watches, that I may MEDITATE on your word.
Psalm 119:162 NKJV I rejoice at Your word as one who finds great spoils.
May we have an ever increasing revelation of the POWER OF THE WORD OF GOD to work in our lives and make us more like Jesus, please note, in Psalm 119:48 it is not just reading the Word and remembering it but MEDITATE upon it, until it becomes a personal LIFE CHANGING WORD IN US, that not only changes my life but CHANGES MY SPEECH.
It is not only WHAT WE SAY BUT HOW WE SAY IT. The same words can be spoken in many different ways, and we need to be sure the hearer does her us correctly. I am reminded of the words of Jesus in Matt. 25:40 NKJV Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ So whenever we speak to someone, let us speak as if we are speaking to Jesus.
I conclude this blog with 2 favourite verseS of mine, and if we take the writer of the Book Hebrews words seriously, we will be a blessing and not cause hurt or for us to sin.
Hebrews 3:13 NKJV but exhort ENCOURAGE one another daily, while it is called “Today.
Psalm 19:14 NKJV Let the WORDS OF MY MOUTH and the meditation of my heart
Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
