Guard Your Tongue

"They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; 

adders' poison is under their lips. Selah."

     Speaking slander, is taken very seriously in the Bible.  When people gossip, they violate no less than 23 biblical commandments. The most classic commandment against slandering can be found in Leviticus 19:16: "Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the LORD."

    Why is slander dealt with so harshly? The answer can be found in Psalm 140, which is entirely about being a victim of slander. In it, the psalmist prays for divine protection from evildoers who the psalmist calls slanderers "violent" and "wicked." He describes their evil words as a trap set to ensnare him.

    Unlike that old childhood rhyme, "Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me," the psalmist obviously does not see these hurtful words as harmless! As any victim of slander can attest, words can be as harmful as a trap and as deadly as venom. This is why we are to avoid them at all cost. Just as we must be vigilant with a loaded gun, we must guard our lips which are also powerful.

    God gave us two gates our teeth and our lips  to help us guard our tongues and use them properly. THINK before you speak: Ask, is it True? Is it Helpful? Is it Inspiring? Is it Necessary? Is it Kind? If the answer is no to any of the above, close the gates and lock them

Amen!

Reading: Ps. 140

Ref: HG SB

May God Bless You

And Your Family

Minister Robert Lail Sr.

The Cross Life Ministry