In today’s blog, I am sharing “A Word, A Song and A Laugh” to encourage you in “how to love life and see good days!” This is a simple and basic truth, but one we all need to be reminded of on a regular basis. I hope you are encouraged today!
A WORD:
“For the Scriptures say, ‘If you want to enjoy life and see many happy days, keep your tongue from speaking evil and your lips from telling lies.’ “
I Peter 3:10, NLT
Who doesn’t want to enjoy life? Doesn’t everyone want happy days? What’s the secret?
Our words.
>> If we will pay attention to two things, we can enjoy life and see many happy days!
So, what are those two things?
1. Keep your tongue from speaking evil:
Now at first glance, we think of the obvious “evil” things - hatred, malice, the occult, wickedness, rebellion towards God and the like. Anything that is contrary to the will and character of God would be considered evil.
We should be mindful of the words we speak, avoiding language that is hurtful, negative, perverse or untruthful. Our words have the power to build up or tear down those around us, and we should use them to bring encouragement and positivity to those we interact with.
But what else? Specifically, what is “evil speaking?” We see an example of this exact thing in the Old Testament. In Numbers 14, God promised the Israelites a land flowing with milk and honey — a blessed land, the Promised Land! Moses sent out 12 spies to see the land and bring back a report. Two of the spies, Joshua and Caleb returned with a good report,
But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh, who were among those who had spied out the land … spoke to all the congregation of the children of Israel, saying: “The land we passed through to spy out is an exceedingly good land. If the Lord delights in us, then He will bring us into this land and give it to us, ‘a land which flows with milk and honey.’ Only do not rebel against the Lord, nor fear the people of the land, for they are our bread; their protection has departed from them, and the Lord is with us. Do not fear them.” (Numbers 14:6-9)
Although they saw enemies and obstacles, they didn’t go by their five physical senses, they went by their faith and they believed God’s promise of a land flowing with milk and honey. They made sure their words agreed with what God had promised them. Their report agreed with God’s words. With their words, they got into agreement and alignment with the Lord … and God liked it!
As a result Joshua and Caleb were the only two spies who got to “enjoy life and see happy days” in the Promised Land.
The other ten spies brought back an “evil report” (evil speaking!) and God didn’t like it. What was the evil speaking? They complained against God! They didn’t agree with His promises. The spoke words that were contrary to what God has said. They spoke evil words of unbelief! God didn’t like it at all!
As a result, these ten spies did not get to “enjoy life and see happy days.”
Here’s what the Bible tells us, “Now the men whom Moses sent to spy out the land, who returned and made all the congregation complain against him by bringing a bad report of the land, those very men who brought the evil report about the land, died by the plague before the Lord. But Joshua the son of Nun and Caleb the son of Jephunneh remained alive, of the men who went to spy out the land.” (Numbers 14:36-38)
Not only did their “evil speaking” affect their lives — they also affected their wives and children. Entire families were affected by their evil report — words of unbelief and complaining!
What does this mean to us?
I think it means we should pay attention to our words. Our words should always point us and the people we influence in the direction of God’s promises. Our words should agree with God’s words.
So, let’s be mindful to keep our lips from speaking evil complaining words, unbelieving words, negative opinion words, flippant words … and any words that contradict God’s Word.
2. Keep your lips from telling lies:
Again, at first glance, when we think of “keeping our lips from telling lies” we think of the obvious: being honest, not lying, being truthful, etc. We think of being truthful and honest in our words, avoiding lies and deception that can harm our relationships with others.
And all of these things are good and true, but there is another dimension of “keeping our lips from telling lies” we want to look at.
The opposite of a “lie” is “truth.” God’s Word is the ultimate truth — Jesus said, “…Your word is truth.” (John 17:17)
When we say things that contradict the truth of God’s Word, those words are: lies.
If we want to enjoy life and see happy days, we need to keep our lips from telling lies — that is, we need to refrain from saying things contrary to the truth of God’s Word.
This entire passage in 1 Peter emphasizes the importance of speaking truthfully and positively in our relationship with God and in our interactions with others. They remind us that our words have the power to bring life and goodness to those around us, and to our own lives as well — and we should use our words wisely.
If we want to enjoy life and see happy days, we must be mindful of our words.
Today, let’s recommit to speak words that agree with God’s word — words that will glorify God and build up those around us.
