James
1:26 “If anyone thinks he is religious and does not bridle his tongue but
deceives his heart, this person's religion is worthless.”
Pastor Kyle says that God tells us in His Holy Word, what He
expects, where He wants us go and where He wants us to end up. Men and women
put thoughts into words, express themselves through their words, and by them we
can communicate and understand. The average person speaks approximately 30,000
words per day and God records them all. The late Dr. J. Vernon McGee states
that our tongue is the index of our life. Our words identify us and reveal our
character. Our tongue tells where you are from, whether you are ignorant or
educated, cultured or crude, vulgar or refined, a Believer or a Blasphemer. The
tongue can change the course of our lives. How many lives have been ruined by gossip?
In many ways, we all stumble. No fallen human being this side of eternity can
tame the tongue, but Pastor Kyle suggests that we should “give it a shot” and
try. We all need to bridle our tongue.
Psalm 39:1 I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my
tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me.”
God will not leave us
sitting where we shouldn’t be. There are times when we have the thought of “Let
it go”, but we must know in our hearts that God thinks about us, forgives us,
cleans us up and guides us because He loves
and cares for us always and forever. We can progress, improve and mature
in holiness and righteousness before the Lord. In John 8:10-11 it says about the woman caught in the act of adultery, When Jesus had raised Himself up
and saw no one but the woman, He said to her, “Woman, where are those accusers of yours? Has no one condemned you?” She said, “No one, Lord.” And
Jesus said to her, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.” We will always
get a Devine response of “Go and sin no more”, because God expects progress. Our
tongue is no exception.
Proverbs 6:16-17 “These six things the Lord hates, Yes,
seven are an abomination
to Him: A proud look, a lying tongue…
Every Spring has a source.
What sources are supplying your unhealthy Spring? What comes out of our mouth
expresses what is in our heart. Addressing the symptom (our external behavior)
does not address the root problem. What distracts us from our God? What do we
have to get out of our heart? Are we willing to go down the straight and narrow
path, where the Lord would have us go by bridling our tongue and walking in the
Spirit?