5 Minute Read
Today’s Bible Reading:
2 Samuel 17:1-29
John 19:23-42
Psalm 119:129-152
Proverbs 16:12-13
Today’s Bible Verse(s):
Proverbs 16:13 (NLT): “The king is pleased with words from righteous lips; he loves those who speak honestly.”
Reflections on Today’s Bible Verse(s):
In the verse that I have chosen for today, Solomon is speaking about the ideal. He is presenting a best-case scenario where a good king is on the throne. While a good king (or leader) values “righteous lips” and “loves those who speak honestly,” not every leader does.
For that matter, ordinary people often do not necessarily value those things either.
But, we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Let’s define our terms.
“Righteous lips:” someone whose speech comes from a good heart informed by the Bible. They uphold the standard outlined in God’s Word as the ideal to be attained. Their words often contain Scripture.
“those who speak honestly:” someone whose words can be counted on. They will tell the truth even if that truth is undesirable.
So, the one affirmed by the king is someone who has a moral standard that has been informed by Scripture. And when they speak, you know that they are accurately saying to what is true, whether that truth is pleasant or distasteful.
Unfortunately, too many people who go by the name “Christian” aren’t spending sufficient time in Scripture, and so their talk isn’t “righteous.” In fact, the name of Jesus rarely crosses their lips from one week to the next.
Further, too many people who go by the name “Christian” aren’t honest when they speak (they say what people want to hear), and bristle when they are confronted with unpleasant truth by people who are honest with them.
That’s the difference between a wise person and a fool…
Proverbs 9:8-9 (NLT): “So don’t bother correcting mockers; they will only hate you. But correct the wise, and they will love you. Instruct the wise, and they will be even wiser. Teach the righteous, and they will learn even more.”
Those who are wise desire righteous lips and honesty even if those words reveal that they are out of conformity with what is right. They listen so that they can make the necessary adjustments in their life.
So, today, ask the Lord to empower you as you work to become a person with righteous lips and who speaks honestly. Further, encourage those around you to be like that. Going one step farther, if you are truly a wise person, you will encourage others to be honest with you when you are not demonstrating righteous lips (or a righteous life).
After all, if you are saved, you aren’t just a common person. You are a child of the King. And as nobility, you need to act like it. And we need honest people with righteous lips to help us along.
Matt Ellis is the pastor of First Baptist Church in Polk City, Florida (fbcpolkcity.com). His latest book is God’s Grace in the Real World. Connect with him on Facebook, Twitter, or LinkedIn.
Matt’s Musings 