LET WISDOM REACH THE TONGUE

 

Monday, September 13, 2021

 

LET WISDOM REACH THE TONGUE

1 Peter 3:8-10

8 Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous:

9 Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing.

10 For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile:

 

           Church decisions require unity in the membership and Peter addresses this first. His “be of one mind” comment does not mean that we do not have ideas and opinions that differ from our neighbor. It means that we are wise enough to consider and defer to the idea of another. Warren Wiersbe said: “Unity does not mean uniformity; it means cooperation in the midst of diversity.”

 

           The Apostle Peter is quoting Psalm 34:12-16 as he addresses his readers. He gives advice on living peacefully with one another. Not the least on his list is advice regarding the use of words. This is a discipline with which Peter had difficulty in the early days of his apostleship and probably struggled with still. He knew the pain and disappointment his own tongue could produce.

 

           In too many very important conversations, we often find that we do not have enough resources to access both brain and tongue. Alas, we unplug the wrong one. We press ahead with verbiage without value.

 

Ps 19:14

14 Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer.