Trustworthy Speech

August 29, 2023

Psalm 15 is a beautiful description of the character that God wants in His people.  The psalm begins in this way: “O LORD, who may abide in Your tent?  Who may dwell on Your holy hill?” (Psalm 15:1 NAS95) Who is it that God will allow into His presence?  Who may live in God’s tent on His mountain?  Much of the answer that follows is focused on our speech.  Only those who have integrity of speech may come before the Lord.

Who may come into God’s presence?  It is the one who “speaks truth in his heart.” (Psalm15:2 NAS95)What does this mean?  To speak truth is to speak what is correct (to the best of our ability), but also that our words would be trustworthy.  Can people rely on the things you say? When you speak, can people take it to the bank?  Do you follow through on your verbal commitments?  What does it mean to speak truth in the heart? Our words must be sincere.  The things we say should truly line up with the thoughts of our heart.  Contrast this with the ungodly and unfaithful person of Psalm 12.  “They speak falsehood to one another; With flattering lips and with a double heart they speak.” (Psalm 12:2 NAS95)  

The one who may dwell in God’s presence is one who “does not slander with his tongue.” (Psalm 15:3 NAS95) Our words should never tear down another person.  Perhaps, in our hearts, we have a low opinion of someone, or think negatively of something they have done.  In those cases, it is wise to think very carefully before we speak.  Slander is a serious offense in the eyes of God.

In verse four, we see once again the importance of integrity of speech. The one who may dwell in God’s presence is one who “swears to his own hurt and does not change…” (Psalm 15:4 NAS95) This is a person who will not go back on his word, even if it later becomes clear that it is going to cost him.  Yes, to go back on what you said you would do is sometimes necessary (in cases of emergency or serious unforeseen circumstances) but doing so should never be done lightly.  As the people of God, let us make sure that our word is as good as gold.

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin

Today

August 18, 2023

I like the emotional honesty of Augustine’s Confessions. His mother, Monica, had believed in Jesus Christ and prayed for her son all his life. But Augustine was ambitious and lustful. He had pursued philosophy and rhetoric. He had made money. He had satisfied his bodily appetites even having a mistress and a son out of wedlock. He admitted that he had opposed Christian belief “out of malice.” This became his prayer: “I had prayed to you for chastity and said ‘Give me chastity and continence, but not yet.’”*

The words, “but not yet,” tell a cautionary tale. We have another expression “sow your wild oats.” The problem with sowing wild oats is the law of harvest. “You reap what you sow.” “For they sow the wind, and they shall reap the whirlwind.” I have known some people who sowed their wild oats and came to their senses. The story of the prodigal son has been repeated by many a son or daughter. But sometimes there are painful consequences even when forgiveness is found. David sowed to the wind with Bathsheba, and he reaped the whirlwind of a rapist Amnon and a treacherous, mutinous Absalom. “Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered” (Psalm 32:1). But better is it to learn this lesson sooner than later.

“But not yet” has another danger. There are other prodigals who have simply stayed in the far country. The danger of repentance put off is that sin has way of deceiving and hardening our hearts. “But exhort one another every day … that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin” (Hebrews 3:13, ESV).

“But not yet” also presumes that opportunities for repentance are unlimited. I deliberately left out part of the quote from Hebrews 3:13 in the above paragraph because it is fitting here: “as long as it is called ‘today.’” Hebrews is reminding its readers that not all the wilderness generation made it to the promised land. The quotation from Psalm 95 sums up the issue and is repeated twice in the chapter for emphasis. “Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion.” (Hebrews 3:7-8, 3:15, ESV)

Today is the day we have. Maybe we will have tomorrow, and maybe we won’t. As Paul states, “Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation” (2 Corinthians 6:2, ESV). “But not yet” is tempting.

Yet, repentance and salvation are too important. God will help us say no to our sinful past if we trust him. May all of us seize the opportunity called today!

—Russ Holden

*Augustine, The Confessions, 8.7

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Posted by Russell Holden

God, the Examiner of Hearts

August 8, 2023

One theme that we find in the Sermon on the Mount is that God sees the thoughts and intentions of our hearts, and that those inner thoughts and intentions will determine our standing with God.  It’s not merely our actions that God is concerned about, but the condition of our inner being.  For example, in the Beatitudes, Jesus pronounces a blessing upon those who are “poor in spirit,” on those who “hunger and thirst for righteousness,” and on those who are “pure in heart.”  Each of these qualities are first and foremost a condition of the inner person (though they certainly create noticeable, external effects).

Later in Jesus’ sermon, He continues teaching about the condition of our hearts.  “You have heard that the ancients were told, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT MURDER’ and ‘Whoever commits murder shall be liable to the court.’  But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court…” (Matthew 5:21-22a NAS95) We all get angry at times, but Jesus is teaching us that to continue in anger toward another, to nurse our anger and hold on to it makes us guilty before God.  This is entirely a matter of the heart!  Notice that Jesus hasn’t said anything about the words we say in anger, or the things we do in anger.  It’s all about what is going on inside—things that only God could know!  Yes, Jesus deals with the words that we might say in anger (later in the same verse). But notice that it all starts as thoughts within the heart.

Similarly, Jesus says, “You have heard that it was said, ‘YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY’; but I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lust for her has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” (Matthew 5:27-28 NAS95) Here is another case where no physical act is taking place.  One might think they are in a right relationship with God because they didn’t “do” anything.  But Jesus says that God looks at lust in the heart as adultery.

Sometimes people will flippantly say, in order to lightly excuse their sinful behavior, “God knows my heart!”  Yes, God does indeed know our hearts, and the sin that dwells there can condemn us eternally.  We must have a deep concern about the condition of our hearts!  The teaching of Jesus, when heard carefully, will not cause us to casually dismiss our sinfulness, but will drive us into the arms of Jesus to beg for His mercy, His cleansing, and His continual transformation of our hearts through His Spirit.  Thank God for the cleansing power of the blood of Jesus!      

—Scott Colvin

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Posted by Scott Colvin