Cut Off Flattering Lips! Psalm 12

That would hurt, and does the punishment fit the crime. Is flattery that bad?

I have to raise money, a lot of money for Downtown Church to move forward or else there will be serious consequences. People will loose their jobs, and lives negatively impacted. I have been seeking a meeting with a man who told me he would meet with me, but I can't seem to nail him down. He has given money in the past, but now is being very illusive. When I see him, he seems to be a good friend, but what he says and what he does don't line up. As a result of his seeming willingness to give what he has given in the past, I have planned and am moving forward, but if he doesn't come through, the consequences will be bad.

This makes me think about how I speak to other people. I have many who come to me for help. I tell them I want to help them find a place to live, and/or find work. They continue to call and I feel as if I string them out. I tell them, "Just keep moving forward, things will get better." For some, things have not gotten better and I wonder how my words have done more harm than good.

What if everyone, especially those in authority, those with power, constantly flattered, telling us things were OK when they were not? What if our insurance company told us all was well but, when our house burned down, we came to find they had no money? What if those around us told us they loved us, but they didn't? What if they really had one thing in common, namely their disdain of us?

"The words of the Lord are pure words, like silver refined in a furnace on the ground, purified seven times. You, O Lord, will keep them..."

 This all points to our need to have a sure word, to be surrounded by lips that speak truth! The only lips that are true are God's. We all need the lips of God. We need words that are true, good and strong. We need One, who never lies, to say, "I will never leave, nor forsake you." "I did not come for the righteous, but for sinners." "Your sins are forgiven." "Therefore, now there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus." "In this life you will have many troubles, but take heart, I have overcome the world." 

So, may we sink deep into the words that come across His lips today and find hope. May we listen to the words of those around us, but not rest in them. For, when our hearts rest on His words, no other words can either falsely encourage us, nor utterly destroy us. And may we seek to speak words that are true, having no use for flattery, which only brings harm.

love, 

dad