When Heaven's Strength Meets Human Weakness
Oh, be careful little tongue what you say
Oh, be careful little tongue what you say
For the Father up above is looking down in love
So, be careful little tongue what you say...
Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. 2 They speak idly everyone with his neighbor; with flattering lips and a double heart they speak. 3 May the Lord cut off all flattering lips, and the tongue that speaks proud things, 4 who have said, "With our tongue we will prevail; our lips are our own; who is lord over us?" - Psalm 12:1-4
The New Spirit Filled Bible footnotes this so aptly: "Godly men cease to be godly when they engage in speech that is insincere (v.2) and arrogant (vv.3-4)." They simply disappear. Not all at once, but ever so subtly, as if you were looking at Marty McFly's family picture in the movie Back to the Future. Marty's siblings were gradually fading before his very eyes – their existence hinging on a fateful kiss.
In the case of faithful believers, righteous destinies slowly vanish away if our kiss is not squarely fixed upon the Son: "Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him" (Ps.2:12); and, also, when mercy, truth, righteousness, and peace become dislocated, undervalued, and lost from our lives. As opposed to: "Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. Truth shall spring out of the earth, and righteousness shall look down from heaven" (Ps.85:10-11).
A kiss given represents what we adore, are passionate about, worship, and hold fast.
Our lives are not our own, neither our tongues or lips along with the words and kisses that flow from them: "Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own? For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God's" (1Cor.6:19-20).
Back to Psalm 12, verse 6: "The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times." These are the precious words we are to speak always. As we minister heavenly things to each other by the Spirit, we are told the angels desire and long to look in (1Pet.1:12). However, be aware, the Lord Himself is actually listening in, hearing the tried, pure words of godly fellowship. Don't you love those confirming Holy Ghost goosebumps of His presence when sharing with one another? What's more, a written record is made…
Then those who feared the Lord spoke to one another, and the Lord listened and heard them; so a book of remembrance was written before Him for those who fear the Lord and who meditate on [esteem] His name (Mal.3:16).
There is something to be said for maintaining a level of decorum among brethren. Letting down our guard, our hair, so to speak, can give way to silly, loose, idle, and empty talk. Not that fun, joy, and comradery can't be had and should, but over-familiarity eventually breeds and leads to disrespect, excess, and contempt.
O faithful sons of men, what better communion and consolation is there than the word of the Lord spoken among us in the beauty of holiness – it's a holy kiss!
Gratefully, that decisive kiss came through for Marty McFly's parents; their generational destinies restored. Beloved, let the Lord kiss us with the kisses of His mouth, and be diligent to rightly keep that love flowing in Word and deed between the brethren:
"Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen" (1Pet.5:14).
"Greet one another with a holy kiss" (2Cor.13:12).
- Elese
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