You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were stills sinners, Christ died for us. (Romans 5:6-8)
Anyone, then, who knows the good he ought to do and doesn’t do it, sins. (James 4:17)
Read more of James 4
This verse has dealt me quite a blow this week! Yikes! Really, I mean don’t you think James could have softened the blow a bit. Couldn’t he have made that verse a little easier to swallow? He’s truly not messing around and he went straight to my heart with this verse.
God continues to convict me and show me that once I know something is wrong, I can’t go back to it. I can’t compromise, not even a little. God deserves my best! I know there are areas in my life that I’m sinning towards God. I see in my health that I was doing so good. I had a great momentum going, but somewhere I lost that momentum. I could give you a thousand excuses why, but none of them seem good enough. God deserves my best with my health. He deserves my best in every area of my life.
The tongue holds the power to promote life into the lives of those around you or it can be a loose cannon firing off and producing countless casualties. Do you want to be responsible for promoting life in people this week or aiming carelessly with loose cannons from your mouth? We need to learn how to take better responsibility for the words that proceed from our mouths. May we find wisdom in the Proverbs and let the words transform our hearts. I pray our understanding may change, so that we can be conformed into God’s likeness alone.
Solomon mentioned the tongue many times in the Proverbs because he knew of its power and warned us of the danger we would face when opening our mouths. It’s time to heed the principles we see in Proverbs and let the Scripture transform our lives so we will not let loose cannons fly out and harm those we care about. Here are some of Solomon’s words and ways to apply them in our daily lives:
When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise. (Proverbs 10:19)
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. (Romans 8:5-6)
This week has kind of had the same theme going. The Lord has really been speaking to my heart about sin. How do we get rid of it and run a better race? How do we draw close to God by seeking forgiveness for our sins? And now I’m challenged to write about the commission on our lives to share with others the peace that passes all understanding when they too partake of casting their sins away and asking for forgiveness. Where do we go from here? How will we let people know that they do not have to live according to the sinful nature that will lead to death? It all begins with the Truth!
How can a young person stay pure? By obeying your word. I have tried hard to find you– don’t let me wander from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. I praise you, O Lord; teach me your decrees. I have recited aloud all the regulations you have given us. I have rejoiced in your laws as much as in riches. I will study your commandments and reflect on your ways. I will delight in your decrees and not forget your word. (Psalm 119:9-16, NLT)
Yesterday, we learned the importance of walking with integrity for God and following the instructions of His Word. May our actions always reflect His heart and His desires for our lives. We can’t enter in to the next section of Psalm 119 without truly committing to walk uprightly before the Lord in every action of our daily routine. I know I want to reflect righteousness. I want to live a life of faithfulness for God and follow His commands of Love. When you can commit to this, then you will be ready for phase 2.