Waist Deep 2018 - June 22


Ecclesiastes 5: 6 Do not let your mouth lead you into sin. (NIV)


The sensual nature of man is stimulated by the sins of the tongue.*


This verse is referring to unfulfilled oaths but it could apply to any other sin that we commit with our mouths. In Scripture there are plenty of references to the bad things we can do with our mouths, so I wondered:  what good things can come out of our mouths? A quick scan of a concordance finds that from the mouth can come laughter, wisdom, praise, graciousness, confession. With our mouths we can make his faithfulness known; extol him; speak what is true; and glorify him. Add to these the references to lips and tongue and we find that there is plenty to keep our mouths too busy for false oaths, lies, gossip, and every other sin that our mouths can lead us into.

It is possible to honor God with your lips while your heart is not engaged (see Matthew 15: 8 and 9, where Jesus quotes Isaiah), but James tells us, in chapter 3, verse 12, that a salt spring can’t produce fresh water. Before we can have a mouth that does not lead us into sin, we first need to allow God to help us clean up the source of our words.

Take responsibility for what you say. Start with what you think.


Thoughts are words to God.*


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