Why did God give us the gift of speech?
James 3:6, 9-13, 17-18 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.”
1. To praise God.
“Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be. Doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter? Can the fig tree, my brethren, bear olive berries? either a vine, figs? so can no fountain both yield salt water and fresh.”
2. To teach and edify one another.
“Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.”
3. To create unity.
“But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, and easy to be intreated, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality, and without hypocrisy. And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.
LESSON - We MUST become Spirit-filled people. Otherwise, we will live our lives constantly responding to the flesh, never attaining self control. One of the best indicators of our level of control is our speech. Next to our thoughts, our speech is the quickest expression of our innermost being. If we live duplicitous lives, on Sundays we will praise God and on Mondays we will tear others down. God says “My brethren, these things ought not so to be.” Our speech was created by God to praise Him and to edify others. Think about these things as you enter into conversations today. Ps 19:14 “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.”
~Mike
Comentarios