The first couple of days after my surgery I
was talking more than usual. As the anesthesia
was leaving my system, I was making many random comments. Some of these made
sense but some were just ramblings that didn’t pertain to anything at all.
At times King David must have been
concerned about the type of words or perhaps the amount of them that he was using.
“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
Ps 141:3 He also mentioned in
Ps
39 about restraining his mouth with a muzzle. He must have passed that information
along to his son Solomon because he wrote, “In the multitude of words sin is
not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” Prov 10:19
everyday
situations. At certain times it may better not to say anything than try to come
up with something clever. James further explains our words as he talks about
the tongue. “And the tongue is a
fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it
defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on
fire by hell.” James 3:5 Wow!!!
After hearing all of this we may decide it
would be better to just be quiet and not say anything at all. However, we know this
is not what God would have for us as He is the One who has given us the ability
to speak. We are told in Eph 4:29 “Let no corrupt word proceed out of your
mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to
the hearers.” We are to use words to
encourage and build one another up, not tear each other down. And finally, “Let
your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you
ought to answer each one.” Col 4:6
Just as King David gave his son advice
on words, my son gave me advice om my words. It went like this; Say it to
yourself before you say it out loud. That’s good counsel because once those
destructive words are out there the damage is done and there is no taking them
back.
Have a pensive week passionately pondering
the purpose of your powerful words and the prolific profusion of them.
Pastor
Marty
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