Month: July 2015

Watch Your Mouth!

Recently my attention has been drawn back to the ancient book of Isaiah. When Isaiah saw the Lord seated on the throne in all his power and holiness (Isaiah 6), his response was as follows:

5 And I said: “Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts!”

6 Then one of the seraphim flew to me, having in his hand a burning coal that he had taken with tongs from the altar. 7 And he touched my mouth and said: “Behold, this has touched your lips; your guilt is taken away, and your sin atoned for.”

Why did Isaiah see his sin as focused on his lips, speech, or conversation? Perhaps it has something to do with the truth that Jesus spoke that it is from the outflow of the heart that the mouth speaks.

Luke 6:45 The good person out of the good treasure of his heart produces good, and the evil person out of his evil treasure produces evil, for out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.

The problem I find is that if I am not spending time in the presence of a Holy God- I don’t even recognize when my speech is wrong.  I get so used to the unclean voices of the world around me that it no longer grates on my soul like fingernails on the chalkboard.

Most Christians would agree that certain things are sins. In Colossians 3, Paul gives a list of the big ones:

Col.3:5 Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry.

But he doesn’t stop there, he goes further into the areas that are harder in these days of social media:

8 But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth.

Do our post/tweets, or responses fit any of these categories?

What about when we are truly attempting to cope with a difficult situation? Can’t we just be honest about our concerns?

Yes, in the right place, at the right time. We know Job said a lot of things to God that seem pretty confrontational. Yet God specifically said to Job’s friends, “My anger burns against you and against your two friends, for you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.” Through all the loss he experienced God says, 1:22 “In all this Job did not sin or charge God with wrong”. Unlike Job’s wife who did want him to “curse” God.

My point is that when Job poured out his questions and frustrations with God in front of his friends they were not drawn closer to the truth about God. They started speaking out of their understanding and spouting theories regarding God and Job.  Job did not sin…but first he had to get into the presence of God and learn to shut his mouth!

40:3 Then Job answered the Lord and said:

4 “Behold, I am of small account; what shall I answer you?
I lay my hand on my mouth.
5 I have spoken once, and I will not answer;
twice, but I will proceed no further.”

THEN- he was able to have a clear enough picture of who God is to pray for his friends’ salvation.

8 And my servant Job shall pray for you, for I will accept his prayer not to deal with you according to your folly. For you have not spoken of me what is right, as my servant Job has.”

Confession: I heard recently that words of mine had caused another to doubt the goodness and faithfulness of God. My indulgence in a pity party, my wanting to receive sympathy and support, my pathetic inability to wait on God to carry me through a particular storm without whining; caused me to question God in front of someone whose faith was not strong enough to handle my crisis of faith. Please God, forgive me and have mercy!

Sitting recently before God with the weight of this on my heart has been difficult because more than anything I desire for this person’s faith to be restored. That they would come to know who God truly is and not the distorted picture of Him that I and others have shown them. Please God, before I utter another word send a coal from the altar and purify my lips!

Living in the “Dog Days”

It’s hot and humid and the days are long.  The humidity hanging over the valley below our house seems perpetually replenished by the steam rising from the Chattahoochee River. The garden droops and all creatures great and small seem to wilt with the effort of movement. It is that time of year we in America call the “dog days of summer”.

Defined by factmonster.com as follows:

Dog Days is the name for the most sultry period of summer, from about July 3 to Aug. 11. Named in early times by observers in countries bordering the Mediterranean, the period was reckoned as extending from 20 days before to 20 days after the conjunction of Sirius (the dog star) and the sun.

The problem is that in the “dog days” it takes effort to get anything accomplished other than sitting in the shade or the air con with a tall glass of sweet tea.

I thought of that when I read the first line of My Utmost for His Highest devotional today. “We are all capable of being spiritual sluggards”.

Sometimes it seems like it is all just too much effort. We don’t want to enter the spiritual struggle for souls; we really just want to go nap in the hammock. Especially if we have during times of great enthusiasm entered the fray and gotten knocked around a bit; we may be even more reluctant.  I think that is why Paul wrote this admonition to the Galatians,

Galatians 6:9-10 And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. So then, as we have opportunity, let us do good to everyone, and especially to those who are of the household of faith.

In the middle of the dog days of summer in can make one weary to have to keep watering the garden and pulling the weeds, but if you want a harvest, it must be done.  It is essential spiritually as well.  We need to keep on doing good to those we want to know God.  Then as if he truly understood life in the church he adds, “Especially to those of the household of faith”.  Those who we think should know better who seem to be along for the ride spiritually. Yep, especially to them we should do good. 

Not only that, but in Hebrews the writer takes it a step further. Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us consider one another to provoke unto love and good works; not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the custom of some is, but exhorting one another; and so much the more, as ye see the day drawing nigh.”

Not only should we stir ourselves up to keep on doing the good, but we should provoke others until they do too. It is so easy to get lulled to sleep and begin floating along with the world around us. Instead, the Scripture says, get together and keep the momentum of spiritual growth alive. Go ahead and stir things up! As Proverbs 27:17 states, “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” That implies a noisy operation with sparks flying.

If you or your church are experiencing the spiritual doldrums, let me make some suggestions:

Start an in-depth Bible study.

Begin a prayer meeting.

Reach out to the poor, or marginalized people groups in your community.

Then MEMORIZE Ephesians 6:10-20, because you are going to need it!  When you begin to take God’s word seriously, prayer and outreach, you had better be prepared for things to get interesting.  The enemy is never pleased when we wake up and begin to step into his territory. Various members of the body of believers will begin to come under attack, but that is not the time to go curl up and hide. It is the time to begin to stand up on the authority of God and His word. 

Jesus said in Matthew 28:18 “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

He has all we would ever need, and He is with us!

So let’s shake off the dog days, drag ourselves from the doldrums’, and quit accepting defeat by opting for the hammock instead of the conflict! Here is my prayer myself and all of you today:

Colossians 1:9 “…we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,  10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God. 11 May you be strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy, 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.