S) "21When you make a vow to the Lord your God, you shall not delay to pay it, for it would be sin in you, and the Lord your God will surely require it of you. 22 However, if you refrain from vowing, it would not be sin in you. 23 You shall be careful to perform what goes out from your lips, just as you have voluntarily vowed to the Lord your God, what you have promised."
Deuteronomy 23:21-23 (NASB)
O) God requires honesty, particularly in our hearts. It's pretty cliche to think of a person pleading with God, asking for help and promising devotion or righteousness. In the 1985 classic "Ladyhawke" Matthew Broderick plays a thief named Philipe. As he is escaping prison, he prays to God, asking for help, vowing to give up his thieving ways. As he is just about completely free, he steals a pouch of money from a guard and says, "I know I promised, Lord, 'Never again.' But, I also know, that You know, what a weak-willed person I am." It's a good joke, and even true that the Lord knows, but this passage makes it clear. God is still displeased, and it is sin, when we fail to uphold our vows to Him, even when He knows we will fail.
A) Over and over, the Bible warns against careless words, and the way that controlling what we say will impact our lives. One of the first lessons I had in this was hearing James quoted in the Third Day song, "Nothin At All". So, I have tried, over the years, to make my words a priority, to think carefully before speaking. This verse is a reminder that, like most things, my concern over my behavior should be highest with regard to God. If I am choosing to be honest with others, I should be even more careful to be honest with God. If I am choosing to be humble before others, I should be even more careful to be humble before God. So, if I am being careful with my words toward others, I need to be even more careful with my words to the LORD.
P) Father, forgive me for the sins of my lips. As much as I am ever concerned with my relationship to others, let me be most concerned with my relationship with You. Thank You for knowing me, in all of my failures, and choosing to love me and save me, just the same. Thank You for Your patience and lovingkindness, which You show to Your servant, day after day. Thank You for disciplining me, to make me more like Your Son. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
A) Over and over, the Bible warns against careless words, and the way that controlling what we say will impact our lives. One of the first lessons I had in this was hearing James quoted in the Third Day song, "Nothin At All". So, I have tried, over the years, to make my words a priority, to think carefully before speaking. This verse is a reminder that, like most things, my concern over my behavior should be highest with regard to God. If I am choosing to be honest with others, I should be even more careful to be honest with God. If I am choosing to be humble before others, I should be even more careful to be humble before God. So, if I am being careful with my words toward others, I need to be even more careful with my words to the LORD.
P) Father, forgive me for the sins of my lips. As much as I am ever concerned with my relationship to others, let me be most concerned with my relationship with You. Thank You for knowing me, in all of my failures, and choosing to love me and save me, just the same. Thank You for Your patience and lovingkindness, which You show to Your servant, day after day. Thank You for disciplining me, to make me more like Your Son. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen.
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