February 28: “O Be Careful, Little Mouth, What You Say”

4 Minute Read

TODAY’S BIBLE READING:

Leviticus 22:17–23:44
Mark 9:30–10:12
Psalm 44:1-8
Proverbs 10:19

TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE(S):

Proverbs 10:19 (CSB): “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is prudent.”

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY’S BIBLE VERSE(S):

As I was reading through Today’s Bible Readings, I saw a couple of verses that I highlighted. I was considering making them the Verse for Today.

But, then I came to Proverbs 10:19.

Proverbs 10:19 (CSB): “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is prudent.”

This proverb states that if someone is a talker, sin is inevitable. But, if someone has learned the art of simply keep their mouth shut, they are wise.

Rather than write a lengthy post, and risk violating this proverb by speaking too much, let me simply copy and paste some relevant Scripture that addresses this topic. Read over these verses reflectively and consider if the Holy Spirit might be calling you to make some adjustments in your life.

Psalm 141:3 (CSB): “LORD, set up a guard for my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips.”

Proverbs 13:3 (CSB): “The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin.”

Proverbs 15:2 (CSB): “The tongue of the wise makes knowledge attractive, but the mouth of fools blurts out foolishness.”

Proverbs 19:1 (CSB): “Better a poor person who lives with integrity than someone who has deceitful lips and is a fool.”

Matthew 15:18-19 (CSB): “But what comes out of the mouth comes from the heart, and this defiles a person. For from the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, sexual immoralities, thefts, false testimonies, slander.”

Ephesians 4:29 (CSB): “No foul language should come from your mouth, but only what is good for building up someone in need, so that it gives grace to those who hear.”

Colossians 4:6 (CSB): “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you should answer each person.”

James 1:26 (CSB): “If anyone thinks he is religious without controlling his tongue, his religion is useless and he deceives himself.”

James 3:2 (CSB): “For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body.”

1 Peter 3:10-12 (CSB): “For the one who wants to love life and to see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit, and let him turn away from evil and do what is good. Let him seek peace and pursue it, because the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous and his ears are open to their prayer. But the face of the Lord is against those who do what is evil.”