A
CONSECRATED TONGUE
BY EDWARD M. MIX
But as He which hath
called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation.-1 Peter, i:15.
If all who profess to
love our Lord Jesus Christ would obey this injunction of the apostle, how the
cause of our dear Redeemer would be advanced. The world would realize that the
religion we profess is indeed a blessed reality. Our words would then “minister
grace unto the hearers,” and carry conviction to the ungodly that God was in us
of a truth; “for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.”
God’s command to all of
us is, “Be ye holy; for I am holy,” and the inspired apostle speaks of
purifying our souls “in obeying the truth through the Spirit.” We can only know
and obey the truth through the Spirit of Truth, and if God’s spirit dwell in us
we shall assuredly obey the command not to nod indulge in “filthiness, nor
foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient.”-(Eph. v:4.)
But it is too true that
there is a great deal of “foolish talking” at the present day, even among
professing Christians, and too few are aware how this practice of jesing eats
out the life of godliness, and proves the means by which many are shorn of
their spiritual strength. A word once paces the bounds of our lips and it is
past recall. Cannot all of us remember with sorrow some time when we have
spoken “unadvisedly with our lips”? It was for this reason that Moses was
debarred the privilege of entering the promised land after he had wandered for
forty years in the wilderness.
How careful then ought
we to be about our words, that our speech may be “always with grace, seasoned with salt, that we may know how we
ought to answer every man.”-(Col. iv:6.)
May the Lord help all of
us who profess to love our dear Redeemer, to realize that by our words we shall
be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned. Let us ever bear in mind
His solemn warning, “I say unto you, That every
idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day
of judgement.”
“O Lord, open thou my
lips; and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise.”
CONSECRATION AND FAITH PLEDGE
CONSECRATION PLEDGE.
Dear
Lord; I present myself unreservedly to Thee.
My
time.
My
talents.
My
tongue.
My
will.
My
property.
My
reputation.
My
entire being.
To
be, and to do, anything that Thou requires of me.
PLEDGE OF FAITH.
Now
as I have given myself away, I am no longer my own, but all the Lord’s.
I
believe Thou dost accept the offering I bring.
I
trust Thee to work in me all the good pleasure of Thy will.
“Wherefore
come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and I will
receive you.”
As I do give myself to Thee, I
believe Thou dost receive me now.
