How can we guard against "lying lips" in our daily conversations? Setting the Stage: The Danger of Lying Lips - Psalm 31:18 pleads, “May lying lips be silenced—lips that speak with arrogance against the righteous, full of pride and contempt.” - David highlights two traits always lurking behind deceit: arrogance and contempt. Falsehood is never neutral; it exalts self and diminishes others. - Because every word we speak either blesses or wounds (Proverbs 18:21), guarding our lips is guarding our witness. Understanding the Heart Issue - Jesus teaches, “For the mouth speaks out of the overflow of the heart” (Matthew 12:34). - Lying lips reveal an internal disorder—pride, fear, or selfish gain. - God doesn’t merely call us to silence deception; He calls us to address its source. Roots That Feed Falsehood 1. Pride—seeking to appear better than we are (Acts 5:1-4). 2. Fear—avoiding consequences or rejection (Genesis 3:10-12). 3. Convenience—choosing the easy story over the true one (Proverbs 14:5). 4. Malice—intending to harm someone through slander (Psalm 52:2-4). Practical Steps to Guard Our Speech - Daily surrender of the tongue: “Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips” (Psalm 141:3). - Practice immediate truth-telling: “Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to his neighbor” (Ephesians 4:25). - Slow down before answering (James 1:19). A pause lets truth catch up with emotion. - Cultivate accountability: invite a trusted believer to lovingly correct any slip toward exaggeration or half-truth. - Replace lies with edifying speech—words that build up and impart grace (Ephesians 4:29). - Memorize key verses (Proverbs 12:22; Colossians 3:9-10) and rehearse them when tempted. The Holy Spirit’s Essential Role - He convicts: John 16:13 promises the Spirit will “guide you into all truth.” - He empowers: Acts 1:8 assures power to witness—truthfully. - He produces fruit: honesty flows naturally when the Spirit’s fruit of “faithfulness” (Galatians 5:22) matures in us. Encouragement for the Journey - God delights in truth “in the inmost being” (Psalm 51:6). Every step toward honesty invites deeper fellowship with Him. - When we fail, we confess swiftly (1 John 1:9). Restoration renews the testimony our words carry. - Living and speaking truth isn't a burden; it's freedom: “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). |
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