DCLM DAILY MANNA DEVOTIONAL FOR DECEMBER 18, 2022 (MIND YOUR WORDS)

TOPIC ; MIND YOUR WORDS

Text: Isaiah 50:1-11

1. Thus saith the LORD, Where is the bill of your mother’s divorcement, whom I have put away? or which of my creditors is it to whom I have sold you? Behold, for your iniquities have ye sold yourselves, and for your transgressions is your mother put away.

2. Wherefore, when I came, was there no man? when I called, was there none to answer? Is my hand shortened at all, that it cannot redeem? or have I no power to deliver? behold, at my rebuke I dry up the sea, I make the rivers a wilderness; their fish stinketh, because there is no water, and dieth for thirst.

3. I clothe the heavens with blackness, and I make sackcloth their covering.

4. The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary; he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.

5. The Lord GOD hath opened mine ear, and I was not rebellious, neither turned away back.

6. I gave my back to the smiters, and my cheeks to them that plucked off the hair; I hid not my face from shame and spitting.

7. For the Lord GOD will help me; therefore shall I not be confounded; therefore have I set my face like a flint, and I know that I shall not be ashamed.

8. He is near that justifieth me; who will contend with me? let us stand together; who is mine adversary? let him come near to me.

9. Behold, the Lord GOD will help me; who is he that shall condemn me? lo, they all shall wax old as a garment; the moth shall eat them up.

10. Who is among you that feareth the LORD, that obeyeth the voice of his servant, that walketh in darkness, and hath no light? let him trust in the name of the LORD, and stay upon his God.

11. Behold, all ye that kindle a fire, that compass yourselves about with sparks; walk in the light of your fire, and in the sparks that ye have kindled. This shall ye have of mine hand; ye shall lie down in sorrow.

KEY VERSE: Isaiah 50:4

“The Lord GOD hath given me the tongue of the learned, that I should know how to speak a word in season to him that is weary: he wakeneth morning by morning, he wakeneth mine ear to hear as the learned.” .

MESSAGE

In the washroom of a place of business in London, British newspaper publisher, William Beaverbrook happened to meet Edward Heath, a young Member of Parliament, about whom Beaverbrook had printed an insulting article a few days earlier. “My dear chap,” said the publisher, “I’ve been thinking it over, and I was wrong. Here and now, I wish to apologise.” “Very well,” grunted Heath, but next time, I wish you’d insult me in the washroom and apologise in your newspaper.”

The Scriptures highlight the power of God demonstrated through His words. They could dry up the sea and make the rivers a wilderness. His words clothe the heavens with darkness, by shutting down sunlight at His pleasure. Yet, Jesus, the Word personified, who is equal with God, acted with the highest humility. During His earthly ministry, He spoke the words of love and compassion to those who were weary and discouraged. He took on the form of a servant and humbled Himself to the point of dying on the cross for the redemption of humanity (Philippians 2:5-8).

The words we speak can either save a soul or push him to the precipice of hell. Words can kill or keep alive. We have heard of countless incidents of people who took their own lives because of what others said about them. Unnecessary wars and conflicts have started because of inciting words spoken by people. On the other hand, many lives have been rescued through kind words. Hope can be restored and life can become bearable by the words of encouragement we speak to each other.

Wounds, once inflicted, can last through lifetime as a result of unkind comments. We all need to promise ourselves to be more patient and kind in our words to each other as we ponder on the lessons of today’s passage.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY:
We must quench the fire in the tongue.

THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR:
Ezekiel 3-5

Daily Manna is the daily devotional of the Deeper Christian Life Bible Ministry (DCLM). It is an extraction of God’s Word designed to draw the sincere seeker closer to God on a daily basis through an insightful exposition and analysis of God’s Word.