Lately I have been made increasingly aware of the power of the tongue in relationship to our sinful nature as humans. We all have a natural tenancy toward sin. We don't have to be taught to speak poorly, gossip, insult, make fun, complain, answer harshly, or show disrespect. This is what James says:
"Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such we will incur a stricter judgment.2 For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body as well.3 Now if we out 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 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.11 Does a fountain send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?12 Can a fig tree, my brethren, produce figs? Nor can salt water produce fresh."
(James 3:1-12, NASB)
I have heard this passage very often and I don't think I have ever really fully comprehended the absolute sinfulness of even just one careless word. One misguided word, one unrestrained thought, is sinful enough to condemn me to hell for eternity. It reveals that I am utterly depraved, helpless to do any sort of good, without Jesus Christ atoning for my sins and the Holy Spirit guiding me day by day. I think we can all relate. We say things we wish we could take back but it seems like after we get over the guilt and the heaviness of our lack of self-control, we forget the seriousness of the offense and fall back into carelessness.
In Matthew 12:33-37 Jesus says something similar to James:
"Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or make the tree bad and its fruit bad; for the tree is known by its fruit.34 You brood of vipers [the unbelieving Pharisees], how can you, being evil, speak what is good? For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.35 The good man brings out of his good treasure what is good; and the evil man brings out of his evil treasure what is evil.36 But I tell you that every careless word that people speak, they shall give an accounting for it in the day of judgment.37 For by your words you will be justified and by your words you will be condemned."
Our words reveal what is in our heart. Whatever we fill our hearts with will inevitably come out of our mouths. We must be cautious of what we fill our hearts and minds with. As Christians, the Holy Spirit dwells within our hearts, bearing fruit as we mature. We need to do our part to discipline ourselves so that our speech does not contradict our confession of faith.
Psalm 19:14 says,
"May the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer."
May we be careful with our hearts and tongues by the power of Christ.
Holly
Sunday, August 18, 2013
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
More Than A Hard Day
Today I finished reading a book that I have been working on for months. I finally dedicated myself enough to sit down and complete it. The book is called, Worship; The Ultimate Priority by Pastor and Bible teacher John MacArthur. In the second last chapter I was really struck with his insights into how Christians can and should worship in the midst of suffering. I would like to share it with you.
"When Job heard the news that everything he loved was gone- his possessions, his animals, even his children - he worshiped the worship of submission. The Bible Says, "Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped" (Job 1:20). Many people would have been bitter and cursed God.
Job had not sinned like David. God was not chastising him for sin - He was allowing Satan to test Job. Yet Job said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (v. 21). His response was unquestioning submission.
Many people are not able to worship God because they refuse to accept their place in life, their job, their career, their partner, their children, or the other circumstances God brings into life. Their response is bitterness and they cannot worship.
Job was able to look beyond his present circumstances and see the goodness of God in His plan. Job said, "He knows the path that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (23:10). When God does bring negative circumstances into our lives He always has a positive purpose.
In fact, we invariably get into trouble when we don't have problems because we don't really grow. In Jeremiah 48:11, God is preparing to judge Moab, and He says,
Moab has been at ease since his youth
He has also been undisturbed like wine on its dregs,
And he has been emptied from vessel to vessel,
Nor has he gone into exile.
Therefore he retains his flavor, and his aroma has not changed.
The people of Moab had it so easy and so smooth that they had become rancid. The analogy Jeremiah uses is from wine-making. Winemakers in Jeremiah's day put crushed grapes in a container and let them sit. Eventually the bitterness and the sediment - called the lees, or the dregs - would settle into the bottom. The wine-maker would pour the wine off the top into another vessel, and the remaining bitterness would settle into the bottom tf the second container in more sediment. Then he would pour that wine to another container, and another, and another - and over a period of time, all of the sediment and its bitterness would be removed (they used it to make vinegar), and the wine would have the aroma of sweetness that the winemaker wanted it to have.
Moab had never lost its bitterness, because the people had never been poured from difficult situation to difficult situation, where the bitterness could be purged out.
We are better off in life if God pours us from trial to trail, because each time we're poured into a different trial, each time we're confined in a different undesirable circumstance, a little of the bitterness of life is removed."
May you be encouraged in the days ahead to trust in the Lord for His strength to endure hardship knowing that He will refine you according to His unfathomable wisdom.
God bless!
Holly
"When Job heard the news that everything he loved was gone- his possessions, his animals, even his children - he worshiped the worship of submission. The Bible Says, "Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped" (Job 1:20). Many people would have been bitter and cursed God.
Job had not sinned like David. God was not chastising him for sin - He was allowing Satan to test Job. Yet Job said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I shall return there. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Blessed be the name of the Lord" (v. 21). His response was unquestioning submission.
Many people are not able to worship God because they refuse to accept their place in life, their job, their career, their partner, their children, or the other circumstances God brings into life. Their response is bitterness and they cannot worship.
Job was able to look beyond his present circumstances and see the goodness of God in His plan. Job said, "He knows the path that I take; when He has tried me, I shall come forth as gold" (23:10). When God does bring negative circumstances into our lives He always has a positive purpose.
In fact, we invariably get into trouble when we don't have problems because we don't really grow. In Jeremiah 48:11, God is preparing to judge Moab, and He says,
Moab has been at ease since his youth
He has also been undisturbed like wine on its dregs,
And he has been emptied from vessel to vessel,
Nor has he gone into exile.
Therefore he retains his flavor, and his aroma has not changed.
The people of Moab had it so easy and so smooth that they had become rancid. The analogy Jeremiah uses is from wine-making. Winemakers in Jeremiah's day put crushed grapes in a container and let them sit. Eventually the bitterness and the sediment - called the lees, or the dregs - would settle into the bottom. The wine-maker would pour the wine off the top into another vessel, and the remaining bitterness would settle into the bottom tf the second container in more sediment. Then he would pour that wine to another container, and another, and another - and over a period of time, all of the sediment and its bitterness would be removed (they used it to make vinegar), and the wine would have the aroma of sweetness that the winemaker wanted it to have.
Moab had never lost its bitterness, because the people had never been poured from difficult situation to difficult situation, where the bitterness could be purged out.
We are better off in life if God pours us from trial to trail, because each time we're poured into a different trial, each time we're confined in a different undesirable circumstance, a little of the bitterness of life is removed."
May you be encouraged in the days ahead to trust in the Lord for His strength to endure hardship knowing that He will refine you according to His unfathomable wisdom.
God bless!
Holly
MacArthur, J.,
& MacArthur, J. (2012). Worship: the ultimate priority. Chicago, IL:
Moody Publishers.
Monday, August 12, 2013
Opening The Hymnal: O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
As I grow in my understanding of the Lord I am increasingly drawn to music that clearly expresses His truth. My affection for hymns flows out of my even deeper affection for the Lord and His Word. It is exciting to come across songs that communicate the very things I wish I could articulate in my own words!
This is one of my favorites. I know it is long but if you can, take the time to read it.
O Sacred Head, Now Wounded
O sacred Head, now wounded, with grief and shame weighed down,
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
Now scornfully surrounded with thorns, Thine only crown;
O sacred Head, what glory, what bliss till now was Thine!
Yet, though despised and gory, I joy to call Thee mine.
What Thou, my Lord, hast suffered, was all for sinners’ gain;
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Mine, mine was the transgression, but Thine the deadly pain.
Lo, here I fall, my Savior! ’Tis I deserve Thy place;
Look on me with Thy favor, vouchsafe to me Thy grace.
Men mock and taunt and jeer Thee, Thou noble countenance,
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!
Though mighty worlds shall fear Thee and flee before Thy glance.
How art thou pale with anguish, with sore abuse and scorn!
How doth Thy visage languish that once was bright as morn!
Now from Thy cheeks has vanished their color once so fair;
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.
From Thy red lips is banished the splendor that was there.
Grim death, with cruel rigor, hath robbed Thee of Thy life;
Thus Thou hast lost Thy vigor, Thy strength in this sad strife.
My burden in Thy Passion, Lord, Thou hast borne for me,
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!
For it was my transgression which brought this woe on Thee.
I cast me down before Thee, wrath were my rightful lot;
Have mercy, I implore Thee; Redeemer, spurn me not!
What language shall I borrow to thank Thee, dearest friend,
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
For this Thy dying sorrow, Thy pity without end?
O make me Thine forever, and should I fainting be,
Lord, let me never, never outlive my love to Thee.
My Shepherd, now receive me; my Guardian, own me Thine.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.
Great blessings Thou didst give me, O source of gifts divine.
Thy lips have often fed me with words of truth and love;
Thy Spirit oft hath led me to heavenly joys above.
Here I will stand beside Thee, from Thee I will not part;
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.
O Savior, do not chide me! When breaks Thy loving heart,
When soul and body languish in death’s cold, cruel grasp,
Then, in Thy deepest anguish, Thee in mine arms I’ll clasp.
The joy can never be spoken, above all joys beside,
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.
When in Thy body broken I thus with safety hide.
O Lord of Life, desiring Thy glory now to see,
Beside Thy cross expiring, I’d breathe my soul to Thee.
My Savior, be Thou near me when death is at my door;
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!
Then let Thy presence cheer me, forsake me nevermore!
When soul and body languish, oh, leave me not alone,
But take away mine anguish by virtue of Thine own!
Be Thou my consolation, my shield when I must die;
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.
Remind me of Thy passion when my last hour draws nigh.
Mine eyes shall then behold Thee, upon Thy cross shall dwell,
My heart by faith enfolds Thee. Who dieth thus dies well.
Sunday, August 11, 2013
Introductions
Hello, everyone!
Just so we are all clear, this blog is intended for friends who are close to my heart even though they might live far away. I want to be able to connect and share my life with you. Hopefully you will find this blog an encouragement in your walk with the Lord Jesus Christ. Thanks for reading!
Sincerely, Holly
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