ANOTHER LESSON LEARNED

ANOTHER LESSON LEARNED

Satan and the world want us to be divided. They will do anything to get us to quarrel, say things that sound like they mean something else and get caught up in discussions that lead us to make assumptions that are partially true at best and false at the worse. 

It is working. We have Democrats against the Republicans, conservatives against the liberals,  limited government people against social justice advocates, blacks against whites, gays against straights, conservative churches against liberal churches and the list goes on and on.

Many of us can and do fall prey to being in one or more of the above categories. I know because I do.

Sometimes I say things out of emotion that maybe based on truth but come across as selfishness, prideful, biased and uncaring. These assumption maybe far from the truth but they are said in a manner that can be heard as negative, rude and untrue. I am constantly learning how to say things in a manner that is true and accurate while being said in a loving and kind way and one that Jesus would approve of.  That is a challenge for me but I am getting better at it with the help of the Holy Spirit. My tongue, brain, heart and upbringing often do not seem to work together for good.

Jesus considers the use of the tongue very important and so should we. That is why I am trying so hard to “tame” my tongue as we are told to do. What we say and how we say it is so important it is mentioned in excess of 40 times in scripture.

To me the most important scripture on tongues is Romans 10:9, There is no greater use for the tongue “because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Because if you are not saved then what does it matter how you use your tongue! Consider other important scriptures such as:  

James 3:8- 9 “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” “With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of Go.” Done that!

1 Peter 3:10 “Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit.” Working on it.

James 1:26 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is worthless.” Agree.

Proverbs 12:18 “There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.” I am trying to be wise.

Proverbs 15:2 The tongue of the wise commends knowledge, but the mouths of fools pour out folly” Have put my foot in my mouth many times.

Matthew 12:34; 36-37  You brood of vipers! How can you speak good, when you are evil? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.”  “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak, for by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”  I am so glad God will not remember many of my words.

Eph. 4:29 Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. Corrupting talk comes natural with us guys at breakfast!

Psalm 141:3 Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips! I sure need Jesus as a watchman over my lisp.

I have many examples of the disease I have (foot in mouth disease) however the prescription I am taking (reading, believing, remembering and actively putting into practice) is scripture and it is curing me although it seems to be the slow acting dose. But I am not giving up. I take a dose of it regularly and am blessed to do so. My conditions are not hard to recognize. I speak when I should listen, sometimes listen to rebut instead of listening to understand, speak to try and convince, speak in a tone that is not appropriate, and the worst of al is when (after we have parted) I realize how wrong my actions were and I am convicted of my sin and then need to repent. That is still a pill that is hard to swallow but fortunately it is going down easier as I mature and learn to control and tame my tongue. I find James 3:7 kind of amusing but true:  All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, ⁸ but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.

Point to ponder; How about you? Have you considered what your tongue does and does it meet God’s standards?

Blessings,  Dennis

A believer that is saved but still in need of taming.

3/10/20