Day 189
1 Chronicles 5:18‐6:81; Acts 26:1‐32; Psalm 6:1‐10; Proverbs 18:20‐21
Oh, Be Careful Little Tongue What You Say
Do you remember that song from VBS? Why was it important? “‘Cause the Father up above is looking down in love, so be careful little tongue what you say.”
Mark Twain said, “The difference between the right word and the almost right word is the difference between lightning and the lightning bug.” From a young age, a little song taught me that we are accountable for the words we use.
In the Gospel of Matthew, chapter 12, Jesus teaches that our words have eternal importance. He says that by them we are acquitted or condemned. Words are powerful.
The Proverb says that the tongue has the power of life and death. Good speech will produce results that benefit the speaker, and evil words produce results that harm the speaker. A person can set many things in motion simply by the words they use, whether careless or carefully formed.
The Psalmist thinks God is absent and calls on Him in tears. Notice that most laments rarely remain in fear or sadness. He is reminded of God’s goodness, and joy is restored.
As disciples of Jesus, we all experience adversity during our pilgrimage on earth. Like the Psalmist, we may deal with anxiety, doubt, sadness, or anger, but if we trust our Lord and His promises and cry out to Him in prayer, He will hear us and act.
Victory for Israel was the result of divine help for the helpless. The Chronicler writes that the people of God faced insurmountable odds, but fidelity and trust brought victory over foes as they cried out to God and were helped. With their words to God, instead of self-reliance, His people received help, victory, and blessing.
You can trust that He hears your words spoken to Him. He is our Father up above, looking down in love.
C. Todd Hare