December 13, 2014 REVEALING WHAT’S ON THE INSIDE
Mark 7:20: “..That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.” James 3:2: “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.” Scripture has a lot to say about the words we speak and the power of the tongue and we all have witnessed first- hand the healing, encouraging power of words spoken and we have witnessed the destructive, damaging power of words spoken as well. We must understand the foundational truth that the words we speak reveal what is in our heart at the time we speak. In Mark, chapter seven, Mark makes the point that it is not what we eat, or what goes in that defiles a person, but rather what comes out in the words that we speak. I am sure that all of us have on some occasion spoken words we later regret and as much as we wish it were possible, we could not retrieve or call back the words we regret speaking. Words have incredible power; power to build up or power to tear down. In chapter three of James, James is making comparisons of the tongue and points out that a bit in the horses’ mouth can direct the whole body and a very small rudder can direct a large ship even though it is driven by strong winds. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body and “yet it boast of great things.” As we see in the verse above; if one does “not stumble in what he says”, then he can bridle, or control his whole body and James says this man is perfect. We may commit not to speak wrong words, we may make the best effort to guard our words (and that is a good thing) but if the heart is not right, we will find ourselves speaking wrong words. In James 3:9-10 we read: “With it (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these ought not to be this way.” With this verse, James is saying that we are not doomed with a tongue that is beyond our control by saying that it “ought not be this way.” In the book of Mark and in other scriptures, we discover the cure for the tongue that so easily speaks damaging words and this cure is basic and simple, but nonetheless true; if the heart is right, then the words will be right. God has given us a new heart and out of this new heart we speak words of life, words that edify, words of healing, words that build up and encourage, and words that are wholesome and true. Because of this, it is critical that we understand in our spirit what God has done on our behalf in the New Covenant and that we come to know in our inner person that we are not a just a “reformed” person, but a new person with a new heart, a new mind and a new spirit! If and when we do find ourselves speaking unhealthy words, let us ask for forgiveness if need be, and then renew our hearts and walk in the new person that God has created us to be. In my previous blog, I talked about us being light in a dark world and one aspect of being light is in the words we speak. So once again we find that the good news of the gospel is not complicated or burdensome. The simple truth is that when our heart is right, when we are living out of our new heart; the words we speak will be words of life and healing and our words will be a reflection our Father in heaven. By speaking the right words, our families and other relationships will be blessed and even those we do not know personally will be blessed by what comes out of our hearts through the words we speak. Even though the tongue left to itself is unruly and “sets the world on fire”, it can come under the power and influence of our new heart that God has given, causing the tongue to speak words that are in keeping with the heart of our Father. John 7:38: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” Proverbs 16:23-24: “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds persuasiveness to his lips. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Blessings,
Buddy
Mark 7:20: “..That which proceeds out of the man, that is what defiles the man.” James 3:2: “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.” Scripture has a lot to say about the words we speak and the power of the tongue and we all have witnessed first- hand the healing, encouraging power of words spoken and we have witnessed the destructive, damaging power of words spoken as well. We must understand the foundational truth that the words we speak reveal what is in our heart at the time we speak. In Mark, chapter seven, Mark makes the point that it is not what we eat, or what goes in that defiles a person, but rather what comes out in the words that we speak. I am sure that all of us have on some occasion spoken words we later regret and as much as we wish it were possible, we could not retrieve or call back the words we regret speaking. Words have incredible power; power to build up or power to tear down. In chapter three of James, James is making comparisons of the tongue and points out that a bit in the horses’ mouth can direct the whole body and a very small rudder can direct a large ship even though it is driven by strong winds. Likewise, the tongue is a small part of the body and “yet it boast of great things.” As we see in the verse above; if one does “not stumble in what he says”, then he can bridle, or control his whole body and James says this man is perfect. We may commit not to speak wrong words, we may make the best effort to guard our words (and that is a good thing) but if the heart is not right, we will find ourselves speaking wrong words. In James 3:9-10 we read: “With it (the tongue) we bless our Lord and Father; and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these ought not to be this way.” With this verse, James is saying that we are not doomed with a tongue that is beyond our control by saying that it “ought not be this way.” In the book of Mark and in other scriptures, we discover the cure for the tongue that so easily speaks damaging words and this cure is basic and simple, but nonetheless true; if the heart is right, then the words will be right. God has given us a new heart and out of this new heart we speak words of life, words that edify, words of healing, words that build up and encourage, and words that are wholesome and true. Because of this, it is critical that we understand in our spirit what God has done on our behalf in the New Covenant and that we come to know in our inner person that we are not a just a “reformed” person, but a new person with a new heart, a new mind and a new spirit! If and when we do find ourselves speaking unhealthy words, let us ask for forgiveness if need be, and then renew our hearts and walk in the new person that God has created us to be. In my previous blog, I talked about us being light in a dark world and one aspect of being light is in the words we speak. So once again we find that the good news of the gospel is not complicated or burdensome. The simple truth is that when our heart is right, when we are living out of our new heart; the words we speak will be words of life and healing and our words will be a reflection our Father in heaven. By speaking the right words, our families and other relationships will be blessed and even those we do not know personally will be blessed by what comes out of our hearts through the words we speak. Even though the tongue left to itself is unruly and “sets the world on fire”, it can come under the power and influence of our new heart that God has given, causing the tongue to speak words that are in keeping with the heart of our Father. John 7:38: “He who believes in Me, as the Scripture said, ‘From his innermost being shall flow rivers of living water.” Proverbs 16:23-24: “The heart of the wise teaches his mouth, And adds persuasiveness to his lips. Pleasant words are a honeycomb, Sweet to the soul and healing to the bones.”
Blessings,
Buddy
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