Mature Obedience
Hold Your Tongue – Part 2

Scripture Reading: Psalm 39:1-5

Key Verse: James 1:26

If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself and his religion is worthless.

Can Christ followers be perfect in holding their tongues?  We probably will never, in this life, have complete victory over our tongues.  However, when a believer comes to the realization that God’s Spirit wants to sanctify every part of them, this growth in our control over our tongues is increased greatly.  Read the Apostle Paul’s words in his letter to the believers in Thessalonica: “May God Himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through.  May your whole spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  The one who calls you is faithful and He will do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23-24).

Since you’ve believed, have you asked God to sanctify you—spirit, soul and body?  Have you come before God and totally surrendered every part of your life and heart to Him?  Jesus wants to be both your Savior and the Lord over your daily life.  We all need these two works of God’s grace: the forgiveness of our sins and, secondly, the cleansing (sanctification) of our hearts from self.  This second work of grace gets at the original sin or wanting to be god over our own life; the Bible refers to it as the carnal or flesh.  God wants us to die to the flesh and live in the Spirit; then we are no longer self-directed, but Spirit directed.  As we walk in the Spirit, our tongue loses its power over us!

Father, I want Jesus to be Lord over all my life and being!  I surrender all of me.  I will walk in your Spirit, obedient to your directions.  In Jesus’ name, amen.