Monday, March 6, 2006
A Deadly Poison
For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. —James 3:2
Some of the greatest people God has used have had a problem with their tongues. God called Job “blameless” and “upright.” But Job had trouble controlling his tongue, as revealed when he said, “Behold, I am vile; what shall I answer You? I lay my hand over my mouth” (Job 40:4).
Isaiah was one of God’s choice servants. But isn’t it interesting that when he came into the presence of God, he said, “Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips...” (Isaiah 6:5). It’s worth noting that when Isaiah, a man of God, stood in the presence of a perfect and holy God, the first thing he became aware of was that he had misused his words.
Without question, Moses was one of the greatest men ever used by God. But he, too, had trouble with his tongue at times. It is written about him, “He spoke rashly with his lips” (Psalm 106:33). So he struggled with it as well.
Even the silver-tongued orator of the Christian church, the apostle Paul, had trouble with his tongue. On one occasion as he stood before the high priest Ananias, Ananias commanded that Paul be hit in the face, which he was. Paul quickly retorted, “God will strike you, you whitewashed wall!” (Acts 23:3).
Of course, the one who would probably receive the foot-in-mouth award would be Simon Peter. The Bible records many occasions in which Peter said things that he regretted. We see how easily it can happen.
The tongue is a deadly poison. And this is why we must dedicate it to God.
For more relevant and biblical teaching from Pastor Greg Laurie, go to www.harvest.org.
Copyright © 2006 by Harvest Ministries. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New King James Version, copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Bible text from the New King James Version is not to be reproduced in copies or otherwise by any means except as permitted in writing by Thomas Nelson, Inc., Attn: Bible Rights and Permissions, P.O. Box 141000, Nashville, TN 37214-1000.
