1 Peter 3:10–12
10 For “He who would love life and see good days, Let him refrain his tongue from evil, And his lips from speaking deceit.
11 Let him turn away from evil and do good; Let him seek peace and pursue it.
12 For the eyes of the LORD are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the LORD is against those who do evil.”
Four things every Christian should…must do.
- Be careful what you say.
- Turn away from evil and do good.
- Seek peace and pursue it.
- Remember the source of life…Jesus Himself.
These verses are a direct quote from Psalm 34:12-16.
Having accepted Christ as Savior is more than just mimicking words. It is giving your life to God. It is allowing God to rule in your life and control how you behave and speak. It is dying to self and living for God. The tongue is easily stirred to run loose.
James 3:3–5 says, “3 Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. 4 Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. 5 Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things. See how great a forest a little fire kindles!”
“A loose tongue sinks ships.” A tongue that is not controlled and disciplined does not know the love of Christ. Peter tells the Christian.
- He must stop his tongue from speaking evil. God does not excuse a person who does not control the tongue. There is an expectation of control. Christians are controlled by the Holy Spirit and therefore if one does not control his tongue is not allowing the Holy Spirit to work in him.
- A Christian does not speak guile or deceit. A manipulator is one who uses the tongue to get what he wants. One of the first things a Christian should learn is how to keep the tongue from deceit and beguile. That is to influence others by trickery, flattery, or charm. These are the ways of Satan.
- It is the duty of all Christians to control the tongue. Churches have been destroyed by loose speaking. Controlling the tongue is a choice of all believers in Christ. God is calling us to do what may seem impossible and it is. Only through the power of God’s Holy Spirit can we do the impossible.
- We either do good or evil with our tongue. Choose to do good.
Paul writes in Ephesians 4:31 “Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.”
This Daily Devotion will be continued over the next few days.