BE STILL

'Be still" (Psa 4.10) probably has far greater applications than we have allowed. Silence is often godly. Its about the way we use our tongue, and it is not flattering, just way too true - about all of us. Here is what James 3 verses 1 through 11 says:

" Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment. 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."

There are 43 references to the subject of our speech in Proverbs alone; God considers it important! Gracious speech is a product of being controlled by the Holy Spirit, and having a 'vat' full of the Word and mind-set of God. Methinks we would all do well to say with the Psalmist, "Take control of what I say, O Lord." NLT Psa 141.3 

bh November 3, 2007

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