by David Brenneman
“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses. We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God, and we are taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ, and we are ready to punish all disobedience, whenever your obedience is complete.” 2 Corinthians 10:3-6.
“Every prudent man acts with knowledge, But a fool displays folly.” Proverbs 13:16.
“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer, But the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
Proverbs 15:28.
“The heart of the wise instructs his mouth And adds persuasiveness to his lips.” Proverbs 16:23.
“He who guards his mouth and his tongue, Guards his soul from troubles.” Proverbs 21:23.
“Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person.”
Colossians 4:6.
Much more than these highlight the need to consider words before speaking...yet most all of us don't.
Society has become that which wants to embrace personal rights over the consideration of the impact of words on another.
It's not just a worldly thing it's found within the Church as well.
It's roots are found in the sin nature of all. Putting self before others.
I have done it, am doing it, as well as all of you.
A change of perspective points to a better way of thinking on this.
"Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you." Matthew 6:33.
We need our focus to not be on us.
Not on what others think of us or might think of us.
Paul strongly eludes to this point here: "“For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.” 1 Corinthians 9:19-23.
We laid down our rights at the foot of the cross when we came to Christ for salvation.
We are to consider our words and their impact.
“Therefore, brethren, since we have confidence to enter the holy place by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He inaugurated for us through the veil, that is, His flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a sincere heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful; and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.” Hebrews 10:19-25.
“Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. ” Romans 15:2.
“Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others. Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. For this reason also, God highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him the name which is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee will bow, of those who are in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and that every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or disputing; so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain. ”
Philippians 2:1-16.
A lot of reading today for sure, but oh, My Dear Reader what God's Word has to say on the matter!
There's indeed all this and more!
Our words impact the present and the future of those who hear them. We shape futures with what comes out of our mouths.
Now you maybe see why Scripture speaks the way it does about the tongue.
Pray this day for the Spirit to guard your tongue and to have the mind of Christ. To speak in such a way pleases our Savior and Lord Jesus Christ.
Pray about how your words have come out of you and what they have done to others. Have they spurred others on towards love and good deeds? Are they used to remind people of the righteous life that God desires? Are you shining the light of Jesus Christ or hiding it?
Are you wanting justice for yourself at the expense of your obedience in Christ Jesus?
If your thoughts are to use words like "I deserve" you're on the wrong path. We deserve the penalty of death for our sins but Jesus took that upon Himself for us.
Consider your ways is what the Scriptures say to us.
There's no such thing as a Believer going at life alone. There's no such thing as a successful Christian life that's driven by fulfilling self before others.
Pray on, pray over, pray through your words, thoughts and deeds.
Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness and all these things will be added to you.
All NASB Scripture Excerpts used by permission.
New American Standard Bible
(C) 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by the Lockman Foundation.
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