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Devotions from Gospel Chapel Ministries HOME SERMONS SERMON NOTES
OUR LOOSE TONGUES
"But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God. Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be," JAM 3:8-10.
When we become loose tongued, speaking of Jesus' friends for whom the Father has given His Son and the Son has given His life's blood, these things ought not to be, my brethren. That is not keeping the commandment of love.
So often we violate God's clear commandment of love which we find in PRO 17:9, "He that covereth a transgression seeketh love; but he that repeateth a matter separateth very friends." Do you see that world of iniquity? Our tongues set on fire the whole course of nature, ye they kindle the fires of hell, cf., JAM 3:5-6.
If we have violated this principle, our Lord demands gospel obedience. He rejoices to see us repent, i.e., that we return unto our Lord with remorse and beg His pardon. We are fallen creatures; we have all violated these principles, but the Lord wants to see us repent. LUK 15:7 tells us, "I say unto you, that likewise joy shall be in heaven over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and nine just persons, which need no repentance."
How do we repent? When we forsake our sin and, by God’s grace, exercise a change of attitude in our hearts toward our brother. At that time we become more forgiving. We see their weaknesses and faults, but we go to him when he is alone. We speak to him in a way that heaps coals of love upon his head. We try to win him and convince him to come away from that fault rather than blare it to the world.
It is the Lord's greatest delight when we repent. When we become renewed in the spirit of our mind, cf., EPH 4:23-27, our whole desire is to do whatever we can to help our brother.
When someone comes to us to tell us what we have done wrong, we should not become defensive, but instead inquire what, when, how so we might correct it. If we become defensive, we end up with contentions. We lose a brother. Remember what Proverbs says:. "A brother offended is harder to be won than a strong city: and their contentions are like the bars of a castle," PRO 18:19.
Our lovely Savior's joy is in seeing our joy fulfilled in loving one another with that same self-sacrificial love which He showed in giving Himself for us.
It is one of the most blessed occurrences when brothers dwell in unity and love. It is based on the self-sacrificial love demonstrated by our Savior. If we are able to walk in His footsteps, we must first sacrifice that ugly monster, "I." We must follow the example of the Lord Jesus.
JOH 15:11-12 says, "These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." Do you realize that the angels in heaven rejoice over one repenting sinner who comes to a change of attitude, desiring to show love for his fellow man and seeking to walk in the footsteps of the Lord Jesus Christ? Our "joy might be full" in so doing.
Christ's joy is fulfilled in fulfilling our joy, and none is as blessed, as when brothers dwell together in unity. This brings joy in heaven and in the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ.
JOH 15:12 says, "This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you." What does He mean when He says, "as I have loved you"? It is with the same self-sacrificing spirit; He didn't come to rail on His disciples about their shortcomings, or Peter's cursing and swearing, denying he knew his Lord.
When He came out of the grave, He told Mary to go tell His disciples and Peter. How did He bring Peter back to Him with a repenting spirit? It was with the tone of love in His voice; He did not come with railing accusations. He did not come to Peter with any accusations of his guilt. What will convict a man of his sin more than to respond with love?
I had a neighbor who did everything he could to hurt me. When his cattle got out and into the neighbor’s grain, I went down and told him. His first response was disbelief. He said, "You're setting me up." But after he went down, got the cattle out of the neighbor’s grain, and fixed his fence, he came to me and said, "Ralph, I want you to know, I would never have done this for you. I have done everything I could to hurt you, and you turned around and did a neighborly thing." From that day on he was the best neighbor I ever had. I didn't win him by railing on him, telling all things he had done to me. I won him by an act of love.
Jesus said, "...love one another, as I have loved you." How was that? He appeased the wrath of the Father with His blood to cover my sin. What an eternal wonder! He gave His life's blood to cover my sin before the Father to appease His wrath.
Now what should I do to cover my neighbor’s sin? What price can I put on that?
When we have faith to see the coals of fire our Savior pours upon our head, it will melt all our rebellion against His commandments of love. It should also melt our rebellion and hate against our brother and neighbor.
Then we will find that the joy of our Savior in seeing the love we have for one another will be mutual—friendship has its mutual delights—friend’s value each other. What should I do for the pleasure and delight of my lovely Savior? I must follow His example. Now I should be able to cover my neighbor’s sin. Amen.
Jesus calls us: o’er the tumult of our life’s wild, restless sea,
Day by day his sweet voice soundeth, saying, "Christian, follow me."As, of old, apostles heard it by the Galilean lake,
Turned from home and toil and kindred, leaving all for his dear sake.
Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world’s golden store,
From each idol that would keep us, saying, "Christian, love me more."
In our joys and in our sorrows, days of toil and hours of ease,
Still he calls, in cares and pleasures, "Christian, love me more than these."
Jesus calls us; by thy mercies, Saviour, may we hear thy call,
Give our hearts to thine obedience, serve and love thee best of all.
~Author: Cecil Frances Alexander, 1852
Our sermons and devotions are a ministry of Gospel Chapel located in Conrad, Montana. We also have a daily devotion and sermon notes on-line. We pray this devotion has been a blessing to those who read it. Thank you.