A Nugget from New Life Network
(excerpts from Bob Gass Ministries)
Scripture for the Day (April 12, 2017)
“The lips of the righteous know what is fitting” (Proverbs 10:32, NIV)
When George H. W. Bush was running for President of the United States in 1988, he admitted he’d made an inappropriate remark about American journalist Dan Rather and White House correspondent Lesley Stahl after an on-air confrontation. Bush referred to Rather in an unprintable term, and also took God’s name in vain in speaking about the Columbia Broadcasting System. When confronted, he said, “If I’d known the microphone was on I wouldn’t have taken the Lord’s name in vain, and I apologize for that.” The fact is, he shouldn’t have said what he said whether the tape was running or not. Remember, God’s tape is always running!
The Bible says, “A man’s ways are in full view of the Lord, and he examines all his paths” (Proverbs 5:21, NIV).
The following was recorded in the Word of God centuries ago for our guidance and direction:
“There is nothing concealed that will not be disclosed, or hidden that will not be made known. What you have said in the dark will be heard in the daylight, and what you have whispered in the ear in the inner rooms will be proclaimed from the roofs.” (Luke 12:2-3, NIV).
“The good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good; and the evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil: for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaketh.” (Luke 6:45, ASV)
Do not let unwholesome [foul, profane, worthless, vulgar] words ever come out of your mouth, but only such speech as is good for building up others, according to the need and the occasion, so that it will be a blessing to those who hear [you speak]. (Ephesians 4:29, Amplified Bible)
Take a moment and consider the following additional two Scriptures:
“The heart of the righteous weighs its answers, but the mouth of the wicked gushes evil” (Proverbs 15:28, NIV).
“The lips of the righteous know what is fitting, but the mouth of the wicked only what is perverse” (Proverbs 10:32, NIV)
The first Scripture tells you that a wise person will think before he or she speaks, because they realize every word has a consequence. The second Scripture tells you that a righteous person automatically knows what’s acceptable, and keeps in mind the fact that God hears every word.
As ambassadors for Christ, we need to be continually asking ourselves, “Would Jesus use the words that I am using?” In John 6:63 Jesus said, “the words that I speak unto you, they are spirit, and they are life.” Do our words qualify as spirit and life? Do the words out of our mouth edify, exhort and comfort (1 Corinthians 14:3)? Are we speaking blessings or cursings (Deuteronomy 30:19)? We do have a choice! Our tongue is the most unruly member of our body. What you and I have to decide is whether our tongue is going to rule us, or are we going to rule our tongue (James 3).
