Oh so many times I have gotten myself into trouble by opening my mouth and saying something that I should not have said. So many times I have been told to engage my brain before I open my mouth. I have gotten better about holding my tongue, still, at times, well, you know. This week’s Scriptures remind us about just that. We should be mindful of the damage that can be done with just a few words. Words can encourage or destroy. We are to consider the possible damage before we engage our tongues. All we can do is try to walk that path, we are human and sinful, growing and doing the work of God Almighty.
Isaiah 50:4-9 4)The Lord GOD has given Me the tongue of disciples, that I may know how to sustain the weary one with a word. He awakens Me morning by morning, He awakens My ear to listen as a disciple. 5)The Lord GOD has opened My ear; and I was not disobedient nor did I turn back. 6)I gave My back to those who strike Me, and My cheeks to those who pluck out the beard; I did not cover My face from humiliation and spitting. 7)For the Lord GOD helps Me therefore, I am not disgraced; therefore, I have set My face like flint, and I know that I will not be ashamed. 8)He who vindicates Me is near; Who will contend with Me? Let us stand up to each other; Who has a case against Me? Let him draw near to Me. 9)Behold, the Lord GOD helps Me; Who is he who condemns Me? Behold, they will all wear out like a garment; the moth will eat them. The strength given here is from God. Isaiah knows that the words he says are God’s words. That those words have power, that each day given to us is a gift of God. Isaiah knows that we need each other, to stand together with the strength of God within and powered by Him. He knows who lends to him the ability to listen. It is a two way street.
Psalm 116:1-9 1)I love the LORD, because He hears My voice and my supplications. 2)Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I shall call upon Him as long as I live. 3)The cords of death encompassed me and the terrors of Sheol came upon me; I found distress and sorrow. 4)Then I called upon the name of the LORD: “O LORD, I beseech You, save my life!” 5)Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; Yes, our God is compassionate. 6)The LORD preserves the simple; I was brought low, and He saved me. 7)Return to your rest, O my soul, for the LORD has dealt bountifully with you. 8)For You have rescued my soul from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. 9)I shall walk before the LORD in the land of the living. A praise and recognition of how our very life is due to God. He listens to us, He blesses us, He rescues us. I particularly like the seventh verse, “Return to your rest, O my soul . . . in our restlessness we struggle terribly. When the author says God is here, He is looking and doing, what a relief!
James 3:1-12 1)Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 2)For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body as well. 3)Now if we put the bits into the horses’ mouths so that they will obey us, we direct their entire body as well. 4)Look at the ships also, though they are so great and are driven by strong winds, are still directed by a very small rudder wherever the inclination of the pilot desires. 5)So also the tongue is a small part of the body, and yet it boasts of great things. See how great a forest is set aflame by such a small fire! 6)And the tongue is a fire, the very world of iniquity; the tongue is set among our members as that which defiles the entire body, and sets on fire the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell. 7)For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8)But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9)With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10)from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing, My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. 11)Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water? 12)Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce olives, or a vine produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh. Whoa, whoa there, James makes a beautiful point. I hadn’t really given this thought and attention that I needed to. But it is so very true, in one sentence we can be mean and hateful and turn to our loved one and speak kindly and thoughtfully. James says that it really shouldn’t be like that, but it is. Our tongue, goodness, it certainly brings into focus the power of our tongue. Be true, be hopeful for hope is in our God.
Mark 8:27-38 27)Jesus went out, along with His disciples, to the villages of Caesarea Philippi; and on the way He questioned His disciples, saying to them, “Who do people say that I am?” 28)They told Him, saying “John the Baptist; and others say Elijah; but others, one of the prophets.” 29)And He continued by questioning them, “But who do you say that I am?” Peter answered and said to Him, “You are the Christ.” 30) And He warned them to tell no one about Him. 31)And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders and the chief priests and the scribes, and be killed, and after three days rise again. 32)And He was stating the matter plainly. And Peter took Him aside and began to rebuke Him. 33)But turning around and seeing His disciples, He rebuked Peter and said, “Get behind Me, Satan; for you are not setting your mind on God’s interests, but man’s.” 34)And He summoned the crowd with His disciples, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 35)”For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s will save it. 36)”For what does it profit a man to gain the whole world, and forfeit his soul? 37)”For what will a man give in exchange for his soul? 38)”For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words is this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will also be ashamed of him when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels. First, we see that Jesus is telling His disciples to keep their mouths shut about Him. Why do you suppose? The time is drawing near for Jesus’s ultimate sacrifice and people are still seeking Him for what He can do not for who He is. Then lovable Peter doesn’t like what he is hearing and steps up to correct Jesus–of all people! A teaching moment arrives, Jesus says put your trust in Me, God’s Son not the things of this filthy, sinful land. Come to Me, seek Me, find Me the Way, the Truth, the Light.
Perhaps this week we will give our words a bit more thought before letting them loose. Perhaps this week we will let God take the lead. Perhaps this week the loving softness towards one another will grow a tiny bit more.
Through Christ, Seek God,
D.J. Schoneweis