June 21, 2019 - WATCH YOUR MOUTH

Day 172 - (Today’s Bible readings: 1 Kings 15:33-16:20; Psalm 141; Revelation 14:1-20)

“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;
keep watch over the door of my lips!” (Psalm 141:3 ESV) 

The picture displays the universal tool (duct tape) being used to correct a universal problem.

Jesus identifies this problem in Matthew 15, “Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person.”

We have all heard someone taking the name of the Lord in vain. That is a blasphemous use of the mouth. But there are many other misuses. Lying, gossiping, cursing, misleading, griping, and the like are all misuses of God’s gift of speaking. David knew that he was prone to sin, just like the rest of us, so he cried out to God.

“Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips!” 

The Eighth Commandment 
You shall not give false testimony against your neighbor. 
What does this mean? 
We should fear and love God so that we do not tell lies about our neighbor, betray him, slander him, or hurt his reputation, 
     but defend him, 
     speak well of him, and 
     explain everything in the kindest possible way.

And if you can't say something nice about another person, cover your mouth with duct tape! (Figuratively speaking, of course! Or is it figuratively non-speaking?)

Heavenly Father, like David, I ask You to guard over my mouth. May all that I say bring glory to Your name and benefit those around me. In Jesus’ name. Amen. 

Pastor David Paape 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path” (Psalm 119:105 ), is the theme for this three-year journey through the entire Old Testament once (the Psalms - twice yearly), and the New Testament twice. There will be daily readings from the O.T., Psalms and the N.T. Special days on the church calendar will be highlighted with appropriate readings. This calendar has been compiled by representatives of the Lutheran Church of Canada, the North American Lutheran Church and the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod. Please click this link for the daily reading calendar:
https://blogs.lcms.org/2017/lcms-lcc-and-nalc-compile-three-year-schedule-of-daily-bible-readings  
Then scroll down to 2019 Bible Reading Calendar and download it if you so wish. The “assigned” daily readings will appear on a daily basis in this blog. May the Lord bless your meditation upon His precious life-giving Word!