"Keep your tongue from evil, And your lips from speaking deceit. Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it." - Psalm 34:13-14
Do you have a difficult time with controlling your words - speaking negatively about someone - maybe even using profanity in the course of your conversations? There was a day when profanity was a part of my vocabulary. It flowed naturally out of my mouth. Then I met Jesus. On numerous occasions, someone will use profanity when talking to me and then apologize. As if it is OK to speak it if they are not speaking to someone like me (whatever that means). I am thinking, don't be concerned about me - I am just a man. Instead Christian, be more concerned about the One who knows the heart of man. The words we speak, my Christian friend, are to be edifying and glorifying.
"A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." - Luke 6:45
The admonition I opened this devotion with is from Psalm 34. It is a spiritual admonition not to try harder but to trust harder, that is to be manifested in day to day living. The Bible does not have one command in it that does not require spiritual power to obey - our surrender and the power of the Spirit at work in us. That is why the rich young ruler was not nearly good enough - even though he seemed to be a marvel of doing good. It was all him.
We have a plaque in our living room next to the TV that says "Guard your heart" - from Proverbs 4:23. The television is thew world's portal into our home through which both good and evil can and does pass. We have to be alert - always. There are so many programs offered that seem interesting but then within the first 5 to 10 minutes very often the actors start shouting out expletives. That is when we change programs.
"Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you." - Philippians 4:6-9
Why would we want to think about whatever is not true, not noble, not just, not pure, not lovely, not of good report, not virtuous, not praise worthy? Isn't that the life that we have been saved from? Ah, but our flesh is drawn to those things still. Be careful to resist the thinking that what you see and hear in the movies or on television - or on social media is not a spiritual danger for you. Certainly it is scripted - contrived - but, at the same time, it is representative of life on this planet. You deceive yourself if you think that you are not going to be affected by the influence of the visual media you are exposed to.
"Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour." - 1 Peter 5:8
Think about it – Pray about it – Believe it – Walk in it. Let your light shine and give God the glory.
By Faith Alone By His Grace Alone And For His Glory Alone
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