Have you ever regretted the things you've said. Sometimes we say things and they cause a world of problems and regret. We really need to learn to think before we speak, and then either keep quiet or choose our words with more care.
A great Biblical example of speaking without thinking is Jephthah:
Judges 11:30-40 (NKJV) And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
It ended in heartbreak...
Judges 11:34-35 (NKJV)34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.”
Jesus on the other hand is our perfect example of when to speak and when not to speak:
Isaiah 53:7(NKJV) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Isaiah 53:9(NKJV) And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Jesus was treated terribly on our behalf yet He did not open His mouth. No deceit was found in His mouth! He knew when to speak and when not to speak!
Controlling our tongue is something the bible speaks of frequently:
Proverbs 10:19(NKJV) In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 18:21(NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
James possibly gives us the strongest warning about the power of our tongue:
James 3:5b-10 (NKJV) See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
"My brethren, these things should not be so"! If only we would follow this urgent plea!
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Let this be our prayer today! Let us be like Jesus who kept quiet and did not sin. He is such a fantastic example and following His example will save us much regret and help us to stay out of trouble.
A great Biblical example of speaking without thinking is Jephthah:
Judges 11:30-40 (NKJV) And Jephthah made a vow to the Lord, and said, “If You will indeed deliver the people of Ammon into my hands, 31 then it will be that whatever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me, when I return in peace from the people of Ammon, shall surely be the Lord’s, and I will offer it up as a burnt offering.”
It ended in heartbreak...
Judges 11:34-35 (NKJV)34 When Jephthah came to his house at Mizpah, there was his daughter, coming out to meet him with timbrels and dancing; and she was his only child. Besides her he had neither son nor daughter. 35 And it came to pass, when he saw her, that he tore his clothes, and said, “Alas, my daughter! You have brought me very low! You are among those who trouble me! For I have given my word to the Lord, and I cannot go back on it.”
Jesus on the other hand is our perfect example of when to speak and when not to speak:
Isaiah 53:7(NKJV) He was oppressed and He was afflicted, Yet He opened not His mouth; He was led as a lamb to the slaughter, And as a sheep before its shearers is silent, So He opened not His mouth.
Isaiah 53:9(NKJV) And they made His grave with the wicked— But with the rich at His death, Because He had done no violence, Nor was any deceit in His mouth.
Jesus was treated terribly on our behalf yet He did not open His mouth. No deceit was found in His mouth! He knew when to speak and when not to speak!
Controlling our tongue is something the bible speaks of frequently:
Proverbs 10:19(NKJV) In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, But he who restrains his lips is wise.
Proverbs 18:21(NKJV) Death and life are in the power of the tongue, And those who love it will eat its fruit.
James possibly gives us the strongest warning about the power of our tongue:
James 3:5b-10 (NKJV) See how great a forest a little fire kindles! 6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. 7 For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. 8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. 10 Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so.
"My brethren, these things should not be so"! If only we would follow this urgent plea!
Psalm 19:14 (NKJV) Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight,
O Lord, my strength and my Redeemer.
Let this be our prayer today! Let us be like Jesus who kept quiet and did not sin. He is such a fantastic example and following His example will save us much regret and help us to stay out of trouble.