HONOR GOD WITH YOUR LIPS

 

HONOR GOD WITH YOUR LIPS

Mark 7:15-16 “You are not defiled by what you eat; you are defiled by what you say and do!” NLT

It does not honor God when our actions do not back up our words. Unless we live what we profess, what we profess doesn’t mean a thing or matter. Talk is cheap. No one wants to listen to someone they know is a hypocrite.

It does not honor God when we use His name in vain. Stop and think about it. How loosely do you use the Lord’s name? Many use His name as a curse word. Others instead may use it with little or no thought of respect. We need to be mindful and careful when we invoke the Lord’s name. His name is the name before whom every knee shall bow. Use His name with a reverent heart.

It does not honor God when we use the language of the world. I have heard coming from the lips of some believers things that make me cringe. How can it be? We speak what comes from the heart? How can we talk like the world talks and not be in heart like them?

It does not honor God when we speak down on others instead of building them up. A good rule of thumb is, if you don’t have anything good to say about someone, don’t say anything at all. Now, I know that we speak negatively about people in the public eye whom we have never met or more than likely ever will. We are opinionated and feel the need to express ourselves when they do or say things we object to. But, when it comes to those whom we know or is known by others we know, we must be very careful how we speak about them. Gossip is damaging and is not becoming of a child of God. Don’t be like those who tear others down; be like those who build others up.

It does not honor God when we take credit for what the Lord has done. We don’t deserve praise for doing well what the Lord allows us to do. The Lord deserves praise for giving us the abilities He does and the opportunities to use our giftedness. He is to be lifted up and honored amongst men, not us.

It does not honor God when we fail to speak to others about Him. We have mouths to speak and the Lord expects us to use them. If we don’t speak out, how else will people who need to hear the Gospel message hear it?

Are you honoring the Lord with your lips?