Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Devo 42: Take the Coal & Cleanse My Lips

In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord sitting on a throne, high and lifted up, and the train of His robe filled the temple. Above it stood seraphim; each one had six wings: with two he covered his face, with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one cried to another and said:

“Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; The whole earth is full of His glory!”
And the posts of the door were shaken by the voice of him who cried out, and the house was filled with smoke. So I said:
“Woe is me, for I am undone! Because I am a man of unclean lips, And I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; For my eyes have seen the King, The LORD of hosts.”
Isaiah 6:1-5

Does it seem odd that when Isaiah came into contact with the Lord of Glory, his first thoughts concerned the impurity of his lips and the lips of his people? Perhaps it does seem odd, but think about it a minute.

Isaiah was encountering eternity—something indescribable and completely Holy. There were no words to describe what he was seeing. The holiness was so overwhelming that he was immediately convicted of his sin, and he was aware of the sin of his people.

Not only that, but he was aware of his lack of understanding. He was face to face with the Living Word. He is complete understanding. He is all knowledge and wisdom. In that place, there is no need for words because understanding is there. Every word spoken has volumes of understanding.

On the contrary, in this physical earth, we need words to describe things and for the most part, earthly things can be described. Everything is not immediately understood between people, so words are necessary to communicate.

Yet, what Isaiah saw was beyond description. Likewise, Ezekiel said over and over, “I saw as it were, the appearance of the likeness of…” Similarly, John said, “It was in the appearance of”…or “it looked like…” Truly, what they saw was beyond description.

However, on earth, we have to use words because there is a lack of understanding. For this reason, I have a continual cry in my heart for wisdom and understanding (Prov. 2).

Also once again, I am convicted of my speech and the words of my mouth. Throughout the scriptures, the necessity of pure speech is continually addressed.

I am provoked by the words of David in Psalm 17. He said, “Though you probe my heart and examine me at night, though you test me, you will find nothing; I have resolved in my heart that my mouth will not sin” (Ps 17:3).

That is a provoking statement. I want to resolve in my heart that my mouth will not sin. I know, however, that my own human resolve is futile. I need the help of the Holy Spirit.

James spent a chapter or two talking about speech and how the little tongue can change the course of the rest of the body, like a horse is turned by a bit in the bridle (Js 3). “With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness…Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?” (Js 3:9, 11).

I am convicted about my use of speech—idle words, coarse joking, stretching the truth—all of those “little things” that we think are little.

The Lord has given us the power to bind and loose things on heaven and on earth (Mt 16:19; 18:18); however, if much of that power was released to us at this present time, it would destroy us.

There is a link between the authority of our words in prayer, preaching, etc and the righteousness of our lips. The prayer of a righteous man avails much (Js 5:16, which is in the context of confession of sin).

Like Isaiah, we must ask the Lord to let the coal touch us and cleanse our lips of impurities. Like David, we must make a resolve in our heart that our mouths will not sin. Of course, when we fail, we should not condemn ourselves, but ask for forgiveness, and start over.

We must also ask the Holy Spirit to guard our mouths and teach us how to walk in the spirit. I always pray the prayer of Psalm 19:14, “May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O God.”

I encourage you to take up this prayer and this resolve. Ask the Holy Spirit to put a guard on your mouth. Ask Him to touch the coal to your lips and purify you. Confess your sin as soon as you commit it and ask the Lord’s forgiveness. Don’t let it sit, because it will just grow. Ask the Lord to help you walk in the spirit in the area of speech. Meditate on these scriptures from the psalms and on the passage in Isaiah 6.

Lord, I ask that you would make us a people of clean hands, a pure heart, and clean lips (Ps 24, Is 6). I pray that you would open the eyes of our understanding that we would know You (Eph. 1:17, Jn. 17:3). Encounter us with Your Holy presence. Purify us and teach your ways. We love You, Jesus.

Blessings,

Amanda

Copyright © 2010, Amanda Rich, All Rights Reserved

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