| Brothers and Sisters, (1 Peter 3:10-11) 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: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it. Whether saved or lost, everyone has a desire to “love life” and see “good days”. The Bible gives us a prescription for this. It’s much like going to the doctor to seek a cure for what ails us. God is our “great physician” and He has the remedy for all that hurts us. Here in I Peter, we see the remedy for anyone who is seeking to “love life” and see “good days”. Here is what the doctor has ordered for each of us this morning. Let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.Controlling the tongue is no doubt the most difficult thing we have to do as Christians. The tongue can stir up more trouble than you can shake a stick at. That’s why Jesus instructed us to let our communication be yea, yea or nay, nay because when we keep letting our tongue spout off it will only lead to evil and corrupt communication. (Matthew 5:37) But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil. The Bible describes the tongue as our most unruly member.(Jamess 3:2-10) For in many things we offend all. If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body. Behold, we put bits in the horses’ mouths, that they may obey us; and we turn about their whole body. Behold also the ships, which though they be so great, and are driven of fierce winds, yet are they turned about with a very small helm, whithersoever the governor listeth. Even so the tongue is a little member, and boasteth great things. Behold, how great a matter a little fire kindleth! And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell. For every kind of beasts, and of birds, and of serpents, and of things in the sea, is tamed, and hath been tamed of mankind: 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. So, if we want to “love life” and see “good days”, it is required that we first learn how to bridle our tongue. (James 1:26) If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man’s religion is vain.Let him eschew evil, and do good.The second step we need to take in order to “love life” and see “good days” is to eschew or stay away from evil. The Bible tells us to abstain for all appearances of evil. (1 Thessalonians 5:22) Abstain from all appearance of evil. If there is a question in your mind if something you are considering being involved with is the right thing or the wrong thing, then stay away from it. It is better to err on the side of caution than to get caught up into something that will lead your life down a path that you never intended to go. Let him seek peace, and ensue it.The third step to take if your desire is to “love life” and see “good days” is to seek peace and ensue (pursue) it. In the world today there are so many that live a life that is full of turmoil. Their life only consists of fussing, feuding and fighting with one another. They always seem to be mad at something or someone. I wouldn’t classify them as loving life or seeing good days when all they seemingly do is fight and argue. Jesus told us to be peacemakers and we would be blessed. (Matthew 5:9) Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God. I believe that if each of us will take this prescription today and follow these 3 easy steps that it will lead us to “love life” and see “good days”. This is my prayer for each of you today. Bro. Rick ReplyReply allForward | |
