If you watch or listen to the news, you will be constantly questioning what is truth and what is untruth. The news is certainly not the place to find encouragement. It promotes fear and distrust, criticism and even hatred. “If it wasn’t for bad news there would be no news at all.” Truly the Bible gets it right in Proverbs 18:21 where it says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue…” It goes without saying that we need to know the truth! “Thy word is truth.” John 17:17. We are told in the Scriptures to “speak the truth in love”. What a blessing! But we can also use truth to hurt and not to help. What a shame! God desires us to use our words to encourage, comfort, guide and instruct. He “speaks peace”.

God has given us two ears, but one tongue, to show that we should be swift to hear, but slow to speak. God has set a double fence before the tongue, the teeth and the lips, to teach us to be wary that we offend not with our tongue.
Thomas Watson

Five, or six, ten people shall be made temporarily wretched because one person, unconsciously perhaps, yet supremely, egotistic and selfish, has never learned to control his disposition and bridle his tongue.
James Aughay

The true test of a man’s spirituality is not his ability to speak, as we are apt to think, but rather his ability to bridle his tongue.
R. Kent Hughes

God tells us in His Word that the tongue has incredible power. We can use our tongue to bring blessings and life or curses and death. The saying “sticks and stones can break my bones but words will never hurt me” is simply not true. Our tongues can be the most difficult thing to control and leave us with great regret if we use our words to hurt. There is hope! The Bible tells us that with the help of the Holy Spirit we can have power and control over our tongue.

I Peter 3:10, “For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.”

Colossians 4:6, “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man.”

Ephesians 4:29, “Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers.”

Titus 3:2, “To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men.”

Proverbs 15:1, “A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger.”

There are many more verses, but the principle is the same. You can be or blessing or a curse. A help or a hindrance.

“When men speak ill of you, live so that nobody will believe them.”
— Selected .

“A sharp tongue is the only edge-tool that grows sharper with constant use.”
— Irving .

“By examining the tongue of a patient, physicians find out the diseases of the body and philosophers the diseases of the mind.”
— Justin .

“The most ferocious monster in the world has his den just behind the teeth.”
— Unknown .

“Give not thy tongue too great liberty, lest it take thee prisoner.”
— Quaries .

“Never throw mud. You may miss your mark, but you must have dirty hands.”
— Parker .

YOU DON’T FIX THE TONGUE UNTIL YOU FIX THE HEART.

“My son, give me thine heart.”

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY

“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” – Billy Graham

“How true Daddy’s words were when he said: ‘All children must look after their own upbringing.’ Parents can only give good advice or put them on the right paths, but the final forming of a person’s character lies in their own hands.” — Anne Frank , German Jew and Holocaust Victim

“Mothers play an important role as the heart of the home, but this in no way lessens the equally important role fathers should play, as head of the home, in nurturing, training, and loving their children.” — Ezra Taft Benson

“I was raised in the greatest of homes … just a really great dad, and I miss him so much … he was a good man, a real simple man … Very faithful, always loved my mom, always provided for the kids, and just a lot of fun. — Max Lucado , Christian Author

There are many different ways of describing a “good” Father. Because of different perspectives, there are different descriptions. Biblically, a Father is to love and provide for his children. He is to “train up a child in the way he should go:…”, Proverbs 22:6. “…but bring them up in the nurture and admonition of the Lord.”, Ephesians 6:4. I Timothy 5:8 states, “But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his own house, he hath denied the faith and is worse than an infidel.” Children should know that they will be loved, protected and cared for.

In Matthew chapters 5, 6 and 7, Jesus is giving His “Sermon on the mount”. Chapter 7:7-11 states, “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:” “For everyone that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.” “Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?” “Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?” “If ye then being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?”

How good and gracious is our heavenly Father! Like the song says, “He giveth and giveth and giveth again!” But what does He give His children? “He daily loadeth us with benefits”, “Every good and perfect gift cometh from above”, “His mercies are new every morning”. He gives comfort, peace, forgiveness, wisdom and instruction, guidance, etc.

In our video portion of today’s Devotional, we will be looking at John chapter 4, the story of the woman at the well. Our Lord gave that woman a great Gift that day that changed her life completely. May you know and receive the Gift of God and say with the Apostle Paul, “Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift”.

In Ephesians chapter 2, we find some wonderful statements about our Lord. Beginning in verse 14; “he is our peace”, “so making peace”, “came and preached peace”. Peace with God is made possible for mankind by the sacrifice of our Lord on the Cross. You can read about this in Ephesians 2. By accepting our Savior we make peace with God and then we can enjoy the peace of God. Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Dr. Ruffner said, “Good men love peace, pray for it, seek it, pursue it, will give anything but a good conscience for it.” Matthew 5:9, “Blessed are the peacemakers…” Romans 12:18, “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.” Hebrews 12:14, “Follow peace with all men,…” James 3:17, “But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable…” James 3:18, “And the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace of them that make peace.”

Live peaceably. Follow peace. Peaceable.

Them that make peace. Peacemakers.

This is a great experience, but not always possible. David said in Psalm 120:6-7, “My soul hath long dwelt with him that hateth peace.” “I am for peace: but when I speak, they are for war.” Spurgeon wrote, “My kindest words appear to provoke them, and they are at daggers drawn at once. Nothing pleases them.” We all know someone like that and maybe even have been someone like that. Console yourself with the fact that both David and David’s Lord endured the same trial without becoming bitter. David’s son Absalom wanted to destroy his father and take the crown and the kingdom. It is ironic that David named him Absalom which means “peacemaker”. What a disappointment he was to David and yet David never stopped loving him. David wept at his son’s death and cried, “O Absalom, would God I had died for thee.” Jesus was a “man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” and yet He said “Father forgive them, they know not what they do”. He never became bitter, He never stopped loving those who crucified Him.

Someone said, “Peace is not made with friends. Peace is made with enemies.” Thank God when we were enemies, (read Ephesians 2) Jesus made peace with the blood of the cross.

Do you wish to be like God? Arthur Balfour wrote, “The best thing to give your enemy is forgiveness; to an opponent tolerance; to a friend, your heart; to your child, a good example; to your father, deference; to your mother, conduct that will make her proud of you; to yourself, respect; to all men, charity.”

“All men desire peace, but very few desire those things that make for peace.”
Thomas A Kempis

“Five great enemies to peace: greed, ambition, envy, anger and pride.”
Petrarch

“For most men the world is centered in self, which is misery: to have one’s world centered in God is peace.”
Donald Hankey

BLESSED ARE THE PEACEMAKERS!

You would do well to read Psalm 61:1-4. David is praying for God to answer his prayer of help and protection. He says, “…when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” To be overwhelmed is to be crushed beneath something, something that is weighty and burdensome…cares, afflictions or business. We are all overwhelmed at times. Psalm 102:1, A Prayer of the afflicted, when he is overwhelmed, and poureth out his complaint before the LORD. “Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come before thee.”

…lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

…and let my cry come unto thee.

Some troubles are provoking, some are perplexing and some are overwhelming. They are all part of the wear and tear of life. Psalm 55:5, “Fearfulness and trembling are come upon me, and horror hath overwhelmed me.” Adam Clarke wrote, “No man ever described a wounded heart like David. Job spoke about those “kicking a man when he is down”. Job 6:27, “Yea, ye overwhelm the fatherless, and dig a pit for your friend.” How different is God’s instruction to us. II Corinthians 2:7, “So that contrariwise ye ought rather to forgive him, and comfort him, lest perhaps such a one should be swallowed up with overmuch sorrow.” Sad to say that many times people don’t treat us as God would have them treat us. Many times, others do not even know about our deepest sorrows. There is ONE who will never leave you nor forsake you. So David cries, “Help Lord!”

“Be still and know that I am God” “As thy days so shall thy strength be” “My grace is sufficient for thee” “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace” “He is our refuge and strength” “Come unto me…I will give you rest unto your souls” etc. etc.

SOMETIMES WHEN WE GET OVERWHELMED, WE FORGET HOW BIG GOD REALLY IS.

“Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”

David prayed in Psalm 123:3-4, “Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us: for we are exceedingly filled with contempt.” “Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, and with the contempt of the proud.”

Contempt is bitterness, “lest any root of bitterness trouble you”, and yet he prays not for judgement but for mercy for his heart and soul. The reproaches of men are an encouragement to look for special help from God. In these very troubling times our prayer is “Lead me to the rock that is higher than I”.

Micah 6:8, “He hath shewed thee, O man, what is good; and what doth the Lord require of thee, but to do justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with thy God?”

There is an interesting story in Ezekiel chapter 22. I would encourage you to read verse 26 to the end of the chapter before reading the rest of this devotional. To give you an understanding of what was taking place in those days I would like to quote from Matthew Henty’s commentary. “All orders and degrees of men had helped to fill the measure of the nation’s guilt. The people that had any power abused it, and even the buyers and sellers find some way to oppress one another. It bodes ill to a people when judgments are breaking in upon them, and the spirit of prayer is restrained. Let all who fear God, unite to promote his truth and righteousness; as wicked men of every rank and profession plot together to run them down.” Sounds very up to date. Verse 30 is the key verse to our message this morning. God sought for a man to make up the hedge, but He found none! This hedge is found mentioned in the Bible many times. It is a wall of protection against “enemies”. In Job 1:10 God had made an hedge about Job. In Mark 12 God had made an hedge about the nation of Israel. In Ecclesiastes 10:8 we are warned “He that diggeth a pit shall fall into it; and whoso breaketh an hedge, a serpent shall bite him.” The reference to the serpent should be obvious.

God is always looking for those who will pray and work for the deliverance of the people. I Timothy 2:1 states, “I exhort therefore, that, first of all, supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks, be made for all men;” Israel needed an intercessor. America needs an intercessor. Our families need an intercessor. Our churches need an intercessor. In Isaiah 58:18 they are called, “The repairer of the breach, The restorer of paths to dwell in.” May God use our lives and our prayers to be involved in repairing and restoring lives, not to cause the breach to be wider.

David asked God in Psalm 55 to create in him a clean heart, to renew a right spirit within him and to restore unto him the joy of his salvation. Then he went on to say, “Then will I teach transgressors thy ways and sinners shall be converted unto thee.” Solomon said in Proverbs, “He that walketh with wise men shall be wise, but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.” James said, “the prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” The lines, the fence, the hedge, the Bible principles are for our protection. We all have an influence on others for good or for bad. May we draw those around us closer to God rather than farther away. In Proverbs, those that forsook the guide, that were void of understanding, wandered out of the way. May God use us to be a light in a dark world, a voice of reason amidst all the confusion, a refuge in the time of the storm and certainly a repairer of the breach. God sought for a man….be that man!

Memorial Day is an American Holiday, honoring the men and women who died while serving in the United States Military. John 15:13 states, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” These Patriots are rightly called heroes. Because they believed in our freedom, they were willing to pay the ultimate price and give the ultimate sacrifice. We know what a person values by what he lives his life for. We really know what a person values by what he is willing to die for. When no one in Israel was willing to fight against Goliath and the Philistines, the enemies of their nation, David said, “Is there not a cause?”. He stepped forward and his victory delivered his people. Paul was being warned of the danger ahead for him as he was going to Jerusalem to preach the Gospel. His response is found in Acts 21:13, “Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”

Years ago in the history of our country, the American Revolutionary War (1775–1783), also known as the American War of Independence, was fought primarily between the Kingdom of Great Britain and her Thirteen Colonies in America, resulting in the overthrow of British rule in the colonies and the establishment of the United States of America. Patrick Henry’s ‘Give Me Liberty, or Give Me Death! ‘ Speech was given as the Virginia convention debated whether to send troops to fight in the Revolutionary War, Henry urged them to do so. “Give me liberty, or give me death!” he demanded, shattering the complacent and evasive mood of his fellow delegates.  Throughout the course of the war, an estimated 6,800 Americans were killed in action, 6,100 wounded, and upwards of 20,000 were taken prisoner. Historians believe that at least an additional 17,000 deaths were the result of disease, including about 8,000–12,000 who died while prisoners of war. Our military has certainly paid the price of freedom many times since then. We honor and remember them today.

This Memorial Day, take a moment to remember those who lost their lives so that we could enjoy life, peace, justice, and the freedom to enjoy the blessings given us by God. For Christians, the day also serves as a vivid reminder of the ultimate sacrifice that was paid for our spiritual freedom- that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, willingly bore our sins on the cross so that all who believe in Him might be reconciled to Him and have eternal life. Romans 5:7-8, “For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” Mark 10:45, “For even the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”

“Only two defining forces have ever offered to die for you; Jesus Christ and the American soldier. One died for your soul; the other for your freedom.”

Hebrews 11:1 states, “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen.” I Peter 1:8 states, “Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.” Although we have not seen Him, we love Him because of true faith. Faith is a belief and acceptance of the truth of what God has revealed. What God says in His Word, the Bible, is evidence enough of the truth that God gives us. We believe because God said it! The Christian believes in the reality of God. This reality is revealed in the Bible. We are instructed to “search the scriptures” because it “was impossible for God to lie” and it is His Word. When we believe God and receive His son Jesus as our Savior our spiritual eyes are opened. Romans 10:17 says, “So the faith cometh by hearing and hearing by the word of God.” “We walk by faith and not by sight.”

Reality is defined as the actual being or existence of anything; truth; fact; in distinction from mere appearance. There is an often used statement, “seeing is believing!” The world cannot see what the Christian can see. The Christian has a new set of eyes! The eyes of faith. The Psalmist prayed in Psalm 119:18, “Open thou mine eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of thy law.” In verse 105, “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.” This reality becomes the basis of our life.

What is real to you about God? You cannot know God except for yourself. We are often told about someone that we don’t know personally, but there is a much different relationship when we know them for ourselves. To know Him is to love Him. I Peter 2:7 says, “Unto you therefore which believe he is precious:”. The Bible says, “…taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the man that trusteth in him”. Describe the taste of a banana to someone that has never tasted a banana. Describe the taste of honey to someone who has never tasted honey. You will not be able to describe it correctly. The best solution is to let them taste it for themselves.

The blessings of the believer are not only for this life, but they are eternal. Our future is as bright as the promises of God. Peter writes in II Peter 1:16, “For we have not followed cunningly devised fables, when we made known unto you the power and coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, but were eyewitnesses of his majesty.” What they saw transformed their lives. In verse 9 the Bible says, “We have also a more sure word…” Look into His word. It will truly change your life.

God promises His strength, His comfort, His peace, His wisdom, His help, His eternity. The phrase “be not afraid” is written 365 times in the Bible. That is a daily reminder from God that He is there for you. Isaiah 41:10, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.”

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

Have you heard the story of a concerned mother whose son was going off to college? She wrote the following letter to the college president: “Dear Sir: My son has been accepted for admission to you college and soon he will be leaving me. I am writing to ask that you give your personal attention to the selection of his roommate. I want to be sure his roommate is not the kind of person who uses foul language, or tells off-color jokes, smokes, drinks, or chases after girls. I hope you will understand why I am appealing to you directly. You see, this is the first time my son will be away from home, except for his three years in the Marine Corps.”

Mothers are just that way. Songs have been written, poems, even pictures have been painted that depict and illustrate a Mother’s love.

We are going to look today at many Biblical examples of a Mother’s love. A mother’s prayers are powerful prayers because of the great love that she has for her children. A godly mother is a great blessing and example to her children. In Genesis, Eve is called, “the mother of all living”, and so begins the story of motherhood. I would like to give you a number of Bible references that show a mother’s love and encourage you to look up and read the context of these verses.

Hagar’s love for her child Ishmael.

Genesis 21:16 “And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bowshot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.”

The mother of Moses.

Exodus 2:3, “And when she could no longer hide him, she took for him an ark of bulrushes, and daubed it with slime and with pitch, and put the child therein; and she laid it in the flags by the river’s brink.”

Her sadness was turned to joy when she was called to care for him! Great story.

The mother of Samuel.

I Samuel 2:19, “Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.”

The mother in Solomon’s time.

I Kings 3:26, “Then spake the woman whose the living child was unto the king, for her bowels yearned upon her son, and she said, O my lord, give her the living child, and in no wise slay it. But the other said, let it be neither mine nor thine, but divide it.”

Again, take the time to read these stories.

The Shunammite mother – II Kings 4:20

The Canaanitish mother – Matthew 15:22

Rizpah’s love for her sons- II Samuel 21:1-14

Victoria Farnsworth writes, “Not until I became a mother did I understand how much my mother had sacrificed for me. Not until I became a mother did I feel how hurt my mother was when I disobeyed. Not until I became a mother did I know how proud my mother was when I achieved. Not until I became a mother did I realize how much my mother loves me.”

Children – Honor your mother today. “…That it may be well with thee…”

Mothers – Love and care for your children. Proverbs 31:10-31. (read)

HER CHILDREN ARISE UP, AND CALL HER BLESSED;