Like Apples of Gold in Settings of Silver

Most of what the Bible has to say about the tongue is very negative and, unfortunately, most of what we experience from the tongue is very negative. This is not because more negative words than positive words are spoken (although there probably are); it is because one negative word can erase (negate) many positive words (every one of us knows this, and we know it quite well!).

There will not be one person who reads this, who can say with any integrity, that he has no problem with his tongue, certainly not "yours truly." The truth is the Scriptures make it very clear that no man can tame the tongue and I assume that includes you and me; however, I am willing to bet that every one of us would like for the Holy Spirit to do what only He can do with our tongues, namely tame them.

Today, I saw something in this very familiar passage that I do not remember seeing before (see if you can see it): "And He said to them, 'Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. He who has believed and has been baptized shall be saved; but he who has disbelieved shall be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who have believed: in My name they will cast out demons, they will speak with new tongues; they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly poison, it shall not hurt them; they will lay hands on the sick, and they will recover'" (Mark 16:15-18). [Send me a comment if you see it! Or at least an email!]

If you see it, you might wonder, as did I, why we so often miss the obvious.

Why don't we all begin to pray that our words will be like "apples of gold in settings of silver"?

Your Pastor