“their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive.”
“the venom of asps is under their lips.”
“their mouth is full of curses and bitterness.”
[romans 3:13-14]
God’s word has much to say about the tongue. james calls it a boastful world of unrighteousness that sets a forest ablaze because the tongue is a fire and is set on fire by hell. he says it is a restless evil. he says it is a deadly poison. and he says it cannot be tamed by any man. [james 3:1-11]
the same sentiment is quoted here by paul from the psalms. the psalms speak of the tongues of wicked evildoers. men who hate God. boastful men who do not give him the worship due his name.
does this sound familiar? it should. every single one of these passages describes us before we bow our knees and hearts to the Lord of all, Jesus Christ. here in romans, paul says “no one is righteous.” [vs 3] so apart from Christ, our tongues cannot be tamed.
apart from Christ, my throat is an open grave. because apart from Christ, i seek only my own glory and pleasure, and so i will cut down anything threatening that outcome.
but in Christ, i am a new creation! the old has passed away, behold the new has come! [2 corinthians 5:15] so i am called to walk in joyful submission, speaking words of life, seeking the glory of my Savior. only in him can i use my words to build up and not tear down. because no man can tame the tongue, but only the Spirit of the living God.
apart from Christ, i use my tongue to deceive. because apart from Christ, my own gain is my only goal. and so i twist and exaggerate and manipulate anything to create that outcome.
but in Christ, i have a new goal and a new purpose! as his chosen possession, i am now called to proclaim his excellencies because he has called me out of darkness and into his marvelous light! [1 peter 2:9] so i am called to speak truth, to be above reproach with my mouth, so that the world can see the glory of my King.
apart from Christ, the venom of asps is under my lips. because apart from Christ, i seek to poison the minds of others in order to elevate myself. i gossip in order to make others make much of me, and tear others down to bring about that outcome.
but in Christ, i have a new voice. because in Christ, i am now called to speak gracious words that are like honeycomb, that bring sweetness to the soul and healing to the body. [proverbs 16:24] i no longer need to elevate myself by tearing others down, because Jesus has brought me healing! i can now build others up so that Christ is glorified!
apart from Christ, my mouth is full of curses and bitterness. because apart from Christ, i will complain about anything that does not give me glory or pleasure. i will speak anger when anything is out of my control and displeasing to me.
but in Christ, the peace of Christ rules in my heart, exchanging a mouth full of bitterness for a mouth full of thankful praise! [colossians 3:15] so i am called to stir others up to love and good deeds as the Spirit has stirred his love and goodness in me.
today, in the presence of a mighty God who tames the tongue, may we put off the old self with its practices and put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator! [col 3] let us, his children, speak words of life, words of truth, words of encouragement, and words that build up the body of Christ. let our lives be a song of thankful praise to our Savior!
~arwen eastman