December 20, 2019
Without a doubt, one of the things which keeps us from attaining perfection is our tongue. When one has reached the point of no longer committing faults in speech, he has surely reached perfection, as was said by the Holy Spirit. The worst defect in talking is talking too much. Hence, in speech be brief and virtuous, brief and gentle, brief and simple, brief and charitable, brief and amiable.
We can never hear the warning often enough. The tongue (or typing finger) may be small, but oh so deadly when not under the sanctifying grace of God.
What are our lame praises in comparison with His love? Nothing, and less than nothing; but love will stammer rather than be dumb.
I am always careful around people who constantly berate themselves, because at my expense they might fulfill the Scripture, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:39). If they criticize themselves, they will probably criticize me.
Guard what you say, especially today. Yes, guard your tongue. Blessings await you but so also are self-induced troubles. Remember: Life and death are in the power of your tongue. Indeed, James warns, that the tongue sets on fire “the course of our life, and is set on fire by hell (Jms 3:6). Don’t destroy your life by speaking loveless words containing seeds of death. Speak life/reap life.
When you resort to shouting in conflict, you are reacting in the flesh. You have lost control of the only person you can control: yourself.
As a tree bringeth forth first leaves, then blossoms and then fruit, so a good Christian ought first to bring forth good thoughts, then good speeches and afterward a godly life, to the honour of God and the good of his children.
The more you say, the less people remember, the fewer the words, the deeper the impression.
Perhaps we have been guilty of speaking against someone and have not realized how it may have hurt them. Then when someone speaks against us, we suddenly realize how deeply such words hurt, and we become sensitive to what we have done.
Silence promotes the presence of God, prevents many harsh and proud words, and suppresses many dangers in the way of ridiculing or harshly udging our neighbours…If you are faithful on keeping silence when it is not necessary to speak, God will preserve you from evil when it is right for you to talk.