WATCH YOUR SPEECH
27th Mar 2024
God had supernaturally rescued the Children of Israel out of Egypt. He had provided water for their thirst, manna to feed them, deliverance from their enemies, signs and wonders; but now they were grumbling, sick of manna, thinking of free fish and vegetables available in Egypt. They were looking back at the positive and totally forgetting the slavery, brick making and cruelty they had been rescued from!
Aaron and Miriam start to criticise their brother Moses, and in Numbers 12 it is recorded, “God heard what they said.” Miriam develops leprosy and is healed as Moses intercedes for her - but it is a serious business, and God did not like what He heard.
Jesus says in Luke 6:45, “For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks.”
Paul says in Ephesians 4:29, “Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.”
Colossians 4:6 says, “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.”
James 3:9 in the Message says, “The tongue runs wild, a wanton killer. With our tongues we bless God our Father; with the same tongues we curse the very men and women he made in his image.”
Proverbs 12:18 says, “The tongue of the wise brings healing.”
Proverbs 18:21 in the Message says, “Words kill, words give life; they’re either poison or fruit - you choose.”
So let’s watch our speech, David prayed in Psalm 141:3, “Set a guard over my mouth, O Lord; keep watch over the door of my lips.”
by Joyce Sibthorpe