SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 3/3/2013
8:19 AM
My Worship Time Focus: Speech can
be used to do Evil
Bible Reading & Meditation Reference: Proverbs
Message of the
verses: We will begin to look at how
speech can be used to do evil in today’s Spiritual Diary, as we contrast it
from what we have learned in the past two SD’s where we looked at how speech
can be used to do good.
When we look at the beginning of the Word of God we see
that the Lord spoke and the world came into existence and this was surely a good
way to use speech, but then we see in the 3rd chapter of Genesis
that Satan’s speech to Eve caused the world to plunge into sin and we can see
evil speech all the way through the Word of God even in the book of Revelations
when we see the evil speech of the false prophet and the antichrist. As we turn on our TV sets and listen to our
radio and look at things on the internet we hear much evil speech in the form
of listening too and also reading. It is
truly my desire to write the truth in all the things that I write, to do this
so that the Lord Jesus Christ will be glorified and lifted up. There are many “spin doctors” in the world
today and it is not getting better, but getting worse. Politicians probably have the worst
reputation when it comes to speaking lies, but there are many so called
preachers who do the same. However we
are not going to look too much at those “professional” people who speak evil,
but we are going to look at believers who do this. How do we do this? Well first we do this by having our speech hurt
others.
We hurt others by
lying. We will begin by looking at
Proverbs 12:19, “Truthful lips will be established forever, But a lying tongue
is only for a moment.” Next Proverbs 12:22, “Lying lips are an abomination to
the LORD, But those who deal faithfully are His delight.” Next Proverbs 6:16-17, “16 There are six things which the LORD hates,
Yes, seven which are an abomination to Him: 17
Haughty eyes, a
lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood.” Solomon warns his readers about bearing false
witness, which is a violation of the ninth commandment. (See Proverbs 14:5, 25;
19:5, 9, 28; 21:28; 24:28) Dr. Wiersbe
writes “When words can’t be trusted, then society starts to fall apart. Contracts are useless, promises are vain, the
judicial system becomes a farce, and all personal relationships are suspect.” “Like a club or a sword or a sharp arrow is
the man who gives false testimony against his neighbor (Pr. 25:18).”
When we look at liars we find that they enjoy listening
to lies, “A wicked man listens to evil lips; a liar pays attention to a
malicious tongue (Pr.17:4).” We know that
what the ears hear is what the heart loves, so one who lies loves lying. However “An honest answer is like a warm hug
(Pr. 24:26 The Message).” We know that
mostly a kiss is a sign of love and so Paul writes in Ephesians 4:15, “Instead,
speaking the truth in love, we will in all things grow up into him who is the
Head, that is, Christ.” Dr. Wiersbe
writes the following about being a honest person, “We should be honest because
we’re honest people in our hearts, walking in the fear of the Lord and not
because we’re shrewd bargainers who follow a successful policy.”
Spiritual meaning
for my life today: I never want to
tell lies, even if it benefits me, for in the long run it will not benefit me,
but hurt me.
My Steps of Faith for Today: Learning things from the book of Proverbs has
been and I suppose it will continue to be convicting to me, and so I need to
confess the things that I fail at and trust that the Lord will give me the
strength through His Word and the Spirit who lives within me to put into
practice the things that I am convicted to put into practice.
Memory verses for the
week: Psalm 32:1-5
1 How blessed is he whose transgression is forgive, whose
sin is covered! 2 How blessed is the man
to whom the LORD does not impute iniquity, and in whose spirit there is no deceit! 3 When I kept silent about my sin, my body
wasted away through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night Your hand was heavy upon me; my vitality was drained
away as with the fever heat of summer.
Selah. 5 I acknowledged my sin to
You, and my iniquity I did not hide; I said “I will confess my transgressions to
the Lord”; and You forgave the guilt of my sin. Selah.
Turning Points Wisdom for
Today: “Never compromise with those who
water down the Word of God to human experience.” (Oswald Chambers) “The Law of the LORD is perfect, converting
the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple; the
statutes of the LORD are right, rejoicing the heart; the commandment of the
LORD is pure, enlightening the eyes.”
(Psalm 19:7-8)
3/3/2013 9:19 AM
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