PROVERBS 12:18 – There is one whose rash words are like sword thrusts, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
THEME OF THE DAY: HARMFUL OR HELPFUL? We need to establish a couple of things before addressing today’s nugget theme.
First, the Christian life is an “all in” or “all out” life. What this means is to follow the Lord Jesus demands wholehearted allegiance with no areas of worldly compromise. Jesus says, “I am Lord of all of your life or not Lord at all in your life.” We might even define the Christian life as an “either or” undertaking meaning we cannot hold on to our wills and desires while attempting to hold on to the Lord’s will and desire. He won’t allow us to wear our yoke and His. We must decide complete surrender to the Lord in a life of obedience to Him or no surrender. Yes, the Christian life has a simplicity about it that is refreshing and uncomfortable. We either follow Jesus “all in” or we don’t. And this has implications for today’s theme and scripture for both are also “either or” or “all in” or “all out” when it comes to our speech.
The other thing to address before looking at the theme and scripture of the day is the impossibility in the strength of self to have a tongue (speech) that is always helpful and edifying. Let James remind us of the inability of any human to control our tongues and speech – For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and sea creature, can be tamed and has been tamed by mankind, 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 God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so (James 3:7-10). Now the theme and scripture.
When it comes to assessing one’s current spiritual condition the two most accurate measuring tools are the quality of our prayer lives and speech. Regarding the former, prayer is the language of love between a reconciled Heavenly Father and His adopted child. Neglect of prayer is a strong indicator of losing first love for Jesus. As for the latter, speech, it is the most revealing of our spiritual condition because it is what lies deep in the heart of the believer. Jesus said, “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34b).
So, what about our speech? Just like following Jesus is an “either or” life, our speech is “either or”. It either will harm others like sword thrusts or help others with words of wisdom bringing healing to a hurting soul. Do an evaluation of our speech right now. In our families, among other believers, and in the world at large, are we carrying around tongues that are weapons like swords quick to harm others? Or are we carrying around tongues like a “first aid” kit that bring healing to hurting souls? Remember, it is either or. And also remember, we need God’s help constantly to ensure our speech heals not harms.
PRAYER: “Father, help me see I cannot control my tongue so I may rely on Your control of my tongue.”
QUOTE: “How we talk and what we see is the most accurate measurement of our spiritual condition.”
Because of Him,
Pastor Jim