“The words of the Lord are flawless.” (Ps 12:6)
Our tongue tells the tale.
Try as we may to mask what is inside and our lips spill the beans. Here, in Psalm 12 David exposes a vast contrast. “Everyone lies to his neighbor” (vs 2). We flatter and boast, “We will triumph with our tongues” (vs. 4). In a pretentious display we assert, “We own our lips” (vs. 4)
The grand contrast comes only a few verses later when David praises, “The words of the Lord are flawless” (Ps 12:6). Always appropriate and completely true. His words are pure. In the Word of God, we have flawless beauty. We should read, memorize, meditate, digest, repeat, ponder and adore His Word.
Experts at detecting counterfeit money hone their craft not by studying the best counterfeit money produced, but by immersing themselves in real, flawless money. So, if we want to grow in our own walk with God, we spend less time focusing on all of our shortcomings, which have been forgiven and separated as far as the east is from the west, and gaze more at His majesty and His eternal Word. His Word, not our effort at reform, will reap purer, lasting fruit.
Write the Word of God on your heart.
Renew your mind with His mind. Keep His thoughts on the tip of Your tongue. This is not just an aspirational encouragement, but a practical exhortation.
I want to ask a tough question. How are you infusing the Word of God in your life? Notice that I didn’t ask, “are you reading your Bible?” Those whose lives are transformed by Scripture find ways throughout their day to remind themselves of its truth. They read, mull on, find times to reread. Transformed lives pray Scripture. They let Scripture inform their decisions and perspective. Scripture reads them and they listen. Practically speaking, how might you dive more deeply into Scripture? Take a moment to come up with one tangible step toward Scripture.
I thoroughly love the Bible but have so much further I could go in letting it transform me. As I write these words, I am compelled to go to new lengths myself. As much as I love to read books on personal development and the wisdom of great Christian thinkers like Dallas Willard, C.S. Lewis, Fenelon, Andrew Murray and a host of others, they all pale next to the direct impact that the flawless Word of God has had on my life. I love the inspiration about Scripture found in Scripture, “For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow, it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart”(Heb 4:12). What place will you give the Word of God in your life?
I enjoyed your blog today and it’s so true. When I first started reading the Bible again in my late 30s, I slowly immersed myself in the Word and enjoyed the feeling of closeness with the Lord and Jesus. A lot of the parables, history lessons and moral examples rang true and my belief grew stronger. It wasn’t until I was able to reference the Bible throughout my day, however, that my day and my life perspective changed. My relationship with the Lord grew stronger, my family ties grew stronger and relationships with my friends. The best of all was just my overall outlook. I’m not a preacher and I want to do a much better job of sharing my faith, which I know will come, but, for now, the joy in my heart I can’t ignore and getting fuller every day. I now find myself talking to God several times throughout my day.
Thanks Brent. You are a great example of a before and after! It’s so good to hear of the impact the Word has made in your daily life. I hope a lot of people read this and act on it. Thanks for sharing!