Proverbs 26_20
October 4
Happy Thursday Everyone,
The scripture for today is Proverbs 26:20
Proverbs 26:20 Where no wood is, there the fire goes out: so where there is no talebearer, the strife ceases.
There is a natural inclination of the flesh to tune into salacious information about others, real or imagined. The propensity to pass on such information is used by the enemy to cause the destruction of often innocent souls. There are few qualities that are more reprehensible than those of a malicious gossip. Scripture tells us that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof." Proverbs 18:21 These words of scripture are clear; we can actually produce death or life through the words we speak. Jesus said, "But I say unto you, that every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment. For by your words you shall be justified, and by your words you shall be condemned." Matthew 12:36-37
Given the sobering message conveyed by these words of Christ, it behooves us to guard our lips and take care to speak words of life whenever we open our mouths to speak. James tells us, "But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison." James 3:8 It appears that we are stuck with a dilemma. We have a problem member in the body (the tongue) and no man can tame it. In order for us to overcome this problem we must surrender the tongue to God and that which we cannot do, He does for us. Jesus, who came here and lived a sinless life as an example for us, offers us His Holy Spirit. Through the power of the Holy Spirit we can have victory over this "unruly evil" and live lives in which our words are pleasing to God. Surrender is the key; not partial surrender, but complete surrender to His will. May our daily prayer to the Father be, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.†Psalms 19:14
God bless you as you continue in His service.
Tim