Wednesday, 12 March 2025

Let us Repent of…the Sin of our Lips

 I said, “There is no hope for me! I am doomed because every word that passes my lips is sinful, and I live among a people whose every word is sinful. And yet, with my own eyes I have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.” (GNT)

This is recorded in the book of Isaiah, chapter six, verse five. Isaiah, standing before the Lord Almighty in His Throne Room, was confronted by a scene he had never before seen. All around him was beaming with the holiness of God, and immediately Isaiah became conscious of his own unholy self, causing him to confess the sin of his lips.

That was the day that Isaiah was commissioned as a prophet. A prophet to speak and deliver God’s Words. Cleanliness of speech was a requirement as it ought to be still.

“Out of the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. These things, my brothers, should not be this way [for we have a moral obligation to speak in a manner that reflects our fear of God and profound respect for His precepts]. Does a spring send out from the same opening both fresh and bitter water?’ – James 3:10-11 (AMP)

James is telling us that we cannot have it both ways; we cannot be offering blessings while at the same time spewing curses.

What have you been saying?

Jesus says,

“But the words you speak come from the heart—that’s what defiles you.” – Matthew 15:18 (NLT)

What have you been allowing to pass your lips?

We all need to take the time to reevaluate the words that are coming out of our mouths. Watch our tone, control our tongues to cancel any negative and destructive words.

“Those who guard their mouths and their tongues keep themselves from calamity.” – Proverbs 21:23 (NIV)

Repentance is surely required. We say things that bring down ourselves and others; restrictive words spoken which stunt our spiritual growth and theirs.

When we repent, we open facets of God’s provision. God sent His beloved Son as a sacrifice for our sin, yet even though we are aware of this, somehow, we don’t truly grasp the enormity of it. We take this life and His Life for granted. Beloved, we must understand that He is the Sun, and we are stars that are to reflect His Light in this dark world. The words we speak must therefore be a reflection of His glory, His warmth and His love.

The price that Jesus paid was too high for us to now be using our lips to accuse, condemn, judge, curse, ridicule, chastise and criticize.

“but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” – James 3:8 (NIV)

It is so easy to speak, and more often than not, our words are unkind, mean, negative and deadly. We even trash talk God, when we say that we’re not being provided for, that our needs are not being met, when we bad-talk the leadership in church – elders, deacons, ministers, priests, pastors and preachers. Are we saying that God has placed the wrong persons in authority? (see Romans 13:1) Even if we think that they’re doing a lousy job then it is not our place to complain but we should pray for them instead.

Today, recognise that we are men and women of unclean lips and need to repent of the sin of our lips. Let us ask God to let a coal from His altar touch and purge our lips.

Lord, I thank You for the price You paid in Your unfailing love for me. Help me to guard my heart and mind so that whatever comes from my lips will bring You glory and honour, not dishonour or defilement. In Jesus’ Name I pray. Amen.

Amen †




 

Shelley Johnson “Let us Repent of…the Sin of our Lips” © March 11, 2025

 

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