The Pilgrim Path---Psalm 17: 1—3

“Hear a just cause, O LORD; attend to my cry! Give ear to my prayer from lips free from deceit! From your presence let my vindication come! Let your eyes behold the right!

You have tried my heart, you have visited me by night, you have tested me, and you will find nothing; I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.”

MY MOUTH

In this prayer of David, the King is not saying that he is without sin, he is simply saying at this juncture in his life that he was attempting to tell the truth and be honest in all his dealings. This is rather remarkable is it not? Then to state, my goal right now is this: “NO sins with my mouth.” Hey---that needs to be more of a super constant goal of mine (and most every Evangelical). We live in angry, mean, caustic, slanderous, hate-filled times. Oh---and I am talking about among So-called Christian people. We really struggle in America with all our stuff (we cannot get enough of it), and with our speech (we say whatever we want about whomever we want---whenever we want---consequences don’t matter---so we think). Sometimes we lie with impunity, misrepresent people with a smile on our face, and then sing “Holy, Holy, Holy” on Sunday Mornings---like it is nothing at all. We should know better…

Please think about these Holy Spirit inspired words, “I have purposed that my mouth will not transgress.” Consider this--- With my mouth I will not:

---Assault another

---Batter another

---Castigate another

---Damn another

---Eradicate another

---Fuss at another

---Gripe at another

---Harass another

---Jeer at another

---Kill another

---Lie about another

---Malign another

---Nag another

---Operate against another

---Punish another

---Quash another

---Ridicule another

---Smear another

---Taunt another

---Undermine another to elevate myself

You get the point about MY MOUTH…

Wow---You need the Holy Spirit for this…

And people tell me that they have hardly ever sinned…

We “need” a Savior “all” the time…Does not this area of our life prove it?

Thank God---the Blood of Jesus, God’s Son cleanses Us from all sin. We may acknowledge sin---turn from it---and ask the Master’s divine power to move forward in renewed humility and devotion…

But we might think: WHAT About our enemies? Do not worry---Jesus has covered this too:

“If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. And if you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to get back the same amount. But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return, and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and evil. Be merciful , even as your Father is merciful.” Luke 6: 32—36

THE TONGUE

“The boneless tongue, so small and weak,

Can crush and kill,” declares the Greek.

“The tongue destroys a greater horde,”

The Turk asserts, “Than does the sword.”

A Persian proverb wisely saith,

“A lengthy tongue---an early death.”

Or sometimes takes this form instead:

“Don’t let your tongue cut off your head.”

“The tongue can speak a word whose speed,”

The Chinese say, “outstrips the steed.”

While Arab sages this impart:

“The tongue’s great storehouse is the heart.”

From Hebrew hath this maxim sprung,

“Though feet should slip, ne’er let the tongue.”

The sacred writer crowns the whole,

“Who keeps his tongue doth keep his soul!”

Grace and Peace in Jesus Christ Our Risen LORD, Pastor Jason