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The Gift of Speech, June 16
Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.
Psalm 34:13
.
Speech is one of the great gifts of God. It is the means by which the
thoughts of the heart are communicated. It is with the tongue that we offer
prayer and praise to God. With the tongue we convince and persuade.
With the tongue we comfort and bless, soothing the bruised, wounded
soul. With the tongue we may make known the wonders of the grace of
God. With the tongue also we may utter perverse things, speaking words
that sting like an adder.
The tongue is a little member, but the words it frames have great
power. The Lord declares, “The tongue can no man tame” (
James 3:8
). It
has set nation against nation and has caused war and bloodshed. Words
have kindled fires that have been hard to quench....
Satan puts into the mind thoughts which the Christian should never
utter. The scornful retort, the bitter, passionate utterance, the cruel, sus-
picious charge, are from him. How many words are spoken that do only
harm to those who utter them and to those who hear! Hard words beat
upon the heart, awaking to life its worst passions. Those who do evil
with their tongues ... grieve the Holy Spirit; for they are working at cross
purposes with God....
Guard well the talent of speech, for it is a mighty power for evil as
well as for good. You cannot be too careful of what you say; for the words
you utter show what power is controlling the heart. If Christ rules there,
your words will reveal the beauty, purity, and fragrance of a character
molded and fashioned by His will. But if you are under the guidance of
the enemy of all good, your words will echo his sentiments....
Only through Christ can we gain the victory over the desire to speak
hasty, un-Christlike words. When in His strength we refuse to give
utterance to Satan’s suggestions, the plant of bitterness in our hearts
withers and dies. The Holy Spirit can make the tongue a savor of life unto
life.
God wants us to be a help and strength to one another. He wants us to
speak words of hope and courage.
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