Of all the gifts which the Creator has bestowed upon His creatures, perhaps there is no greater blessing than the power of speech, and it is certain that no blessing has been more sadly perverted and abused. “the tongue is a little member, and boasts great things.” James 3:5 The wise man informs us that life and death are in the power of the tongue; and our Saviour tells us, that by our words we shall be justified or condemned. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” James 3:2.
When we realize that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh,” we see the need of a thorough cleansing of the fountain, that the stream issuing from it may be pure. Jesus has left us an example that we should follow in His steps. He “did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth.” “As He which hath called you is Holy, so be ye Holy in all manner of conversation.” Our precious Saviour “was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin;” He endured trials and sufferings such as we can never know but no words of murmuring or impatience ever fell from His lips. When He was reviled, He reviled not again; when He suffered, He threatened not. He was ever ready to speak words of love and tenderness, to sympathize with the afflicted, and to kindly reprove the erring; and even in the agonies of death He prayed for His murderers.
Are we followers of this perfect example of holiness, and do words of anger, or of impatience and fretfulness, ever pass our lips? Do we try to injure those who have injured us, instead of obeying the instruction of the Master in Matt. 18:15? Do we talk of the faults of others in their absence, and judge them harshly? Read James 4:11, 12: “Speak not evil one of another, brethren. He that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law; but if thou judge the law, thou art not a doer of the law, but a judge. There is one lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy; who art thou that judges another?” Do we indulge in foolish talking and jesting, forgetting that for every idle word we speak we must give account in the day of Judgment? or if we have, through the grace of God, put away these things, are there not still greater victories for us to attain? Is our conversation in Heaven, from whence we look for the appearing of our Saviour? “Seeing then,” says the apostle, “that all these things shall be dissolved, what manner of persons ought ye to be in all holy conversation and godliness?”
We are not our own; Jesus has bought us with his own precious blood. All the talents which he has given us belong to him, and he expects us to use them to his glory. Oh that we might so realize this that our tongues might be sanctified to his service! If we truly love the Lord with all our hearts if He is to us the “chiefest among ten thousand, and altogether lovely,” we shall delight to speak to others of His charms; we shall long to “tell to all around what a dear Saviour we have found;” His praises will flow spontaneously from our lips. “Whoso offereth praise glorifieth Me; and to him that ordereth his conversation aright will I show the salvation of God.” Ps. 50:23.
If we realize fully the shortness of time, and the greatness of the work before us, we shall feel that we have no time for idle or unprofitable conversation. If our treasure is laid up in Heaven, if our hearts are there, we shall love to talk of our heavenly home. The glories in reserve for the people of God will so enrapture our hearts that it will be our greatest pleasure to speak of them to others. Oh! let us no longer talk about the trials of the way. Let us not talk darkness and discouragement, but let us talk of the “blessed hope,” and thus inspire in our own hearts, and in the hearts of those around us, faith, hope, and courage. “Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my Redeemer.” Ps. 19:19 Let us think and talk more of that.
“Happy day, when earth so bright
In Eden robes shall bloom again.”
The Christian’s hope is soon to be realized; our heavenly home is almost in sight, and it is time that we learn to speak the language of Canaan.
“The Lord is coming! let this be
The herald note of jubilee;
And when we meet and when we part,
The salutation from the heart.”
The Advent Review and Sabbath Herald. June, 20 1882