The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable
Proverbs 10:32 Reclaiming one’s faith has the effect of bringing in the Holy Spirit to tame a fiery soul.
“The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, But the mouth of the wicked what is perverted.”
Proverbs 10:32 NASB1995
Unless you have had exceptional wisdom in selecting your friends or co-workers, you’ve probably encountered at least one of those men or women who uses “salty”language as their normal mode of speaking. You know the type: they seem to be missing that internal filter (AKA the Holy Spirit) that keeps most of us from spouting obscenities in everyday conversation.
The situation in which they’re speaking doesn’t seem to matter. They’re comfortable letting loose a string of expletives even when their parents or children are within earshot; they’re found in boardrooms and in ditches; and they don’t seem to recognize (or care) when others are uncomfortable with their nonstop cursing.
I have to admit that Barb and I were somewhat guilty of this bad habit when we were in our wilderness years. In college, it was expected of most of the rebellious sub-adults to show just how “cool” we were by dropping a smattering of cuss words into every sentence. Once we graduated and were in the work world, it didn’t stop. Since we were both trying to prove our alleged “superior intelligence” to others, we’d deliberately provoke others with our language…
We’re much, much better now — except when someone cuts us off while driving or otherwise threatens our earthly existence through sheer negligence. At least now, we realize what we’re saying and immediately ask God for forgiveness.
Reading Scripture year after year ingrains in a person wisdom like that found in today’s verse from Proverbs, and it has a cumulative effect on relationships both with God and with other humans. Reclaiming one’s faith also has the effect of bringing in the Holy Spirit to tame a fiery soul.
I’ll end today’s devotional with this short commentary on Proverbs 10:32 by 17th Century minister Matthew Henry:
A good man discourses wisely for the benefit of others. But it is the sin, and will be the ruin of a wicked man, that he speaks what is displeasing to God, and provoking to those he converses with. The righteous is kept by the power of God; and nothing shall be able to separate him from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus.
Heaven On Wheels Daily Prayer:
Father in Heaven, each day I thank You for Your infinite patience and love, working to help me to inch ever closer to the unattainable perfection of Your Son and my Savior, Jesus Christ. In the words of the psalmist, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my rock and my Redeemer.” (Psalms 19:14). AMEN.