HE WHO WOULD LOVE LIFE

Sunday 09

“For he who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit.”1 Peter 3:10 (NKJV)
Read: 1 Peter 3:8-12

Apostle Peter says whoever would love life and see good days, let such a person refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking deceit. The word life in the passage means time, in Greek. In other words, someone who wants or loves to live long–one who wants long life–should pay attention to things mentioned there in the passage.

• Let such a person refrain his tongue from evil.
• Also, such should refrain his lips from speaking deceit.

Remember, Jesus said what defiles someone is what comes out of the person, out of the multitude of the heart mouth speaks (Matthew 15:18-20). In other words, what is going on the inside of you determines your words–things that proceed from your mouth.

If you are filled with the Word of God, that is, your mind is preoccupied with the Scriptures, it will show in your words or language. It will also show in how you comport yourself and how you relate with your fellow humans.

Through your words, when your tongue is not refrained, you can cut your life short. Some have seen evil in their life, and it is as a result of their inability to refrain their tongues.

Thus, if you want to live long and see good days of your life, then, work on your tongue. Refrain it from speaking evil. Another thing you should refrain are your lips. You refrain your lips from speaking deceit. In fact, you would need to see some so-called professed believers, how they deceive and tell lies without any remorse. But, it is explicitly written in the Bible: “Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds.” Colossians 3:9

Definitely, a believer who is still lying and deceiving has not completely put off the old man with his deeds in his life. The old man in the passage is the flesh and its lustfulness.

Whoever is still deceiving and lying to fellow humans, such is yet to fully renounce or put off the old man, and its deeds–the flesh and its passions and desires (Galatians 5:24).

Read: Ephesians 4:25

• Deal with your tongue (James 1:26).
• Be disciplined in talking (Colossians 4:6).
• Be swift to hear and slow to talk (James 1:19). Read: James 3:2-12.

In continuation, Apostle Peter also says, in the next verse, 1 Peter 3:11, such a person who loves life should: “Turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it.”

Turning away from evil and doing good should be a byproduct of being saved or reborn. But unfortunately, there are many professed believers today who had little or no difference from the unbelievers. In fact, in some cases, some unbelievers are well-behaved than the so-called believers (Romans 2:3,21-24).

Another thing is that the person should seek peace and pursue it (1 Peter 3:11).

Peace should be the goal of every believer. The Scriptural admonition is: “Follow peace with all men, with holiness, without which no one will see the Lord.” Hebrews 12:14

It is difficult to relate and live with some believers, their character is like that of the ungodly. Some believers are far away from peace! Even if you are an extroverted person, it does not mean you cannot live peaceably with others. Must you be the one having problems with others always? The truth is that you can live peaceably with others!

If it seems the people around you are unlovable and they are not peaceable, that may suggest that God through the people may want to grow or develop some of the fruits of the spirit that are lacking in your life; the like of love, peace, gentleness, and a number of other fruits that are not found in your life (Galatians 5:22,23). Thus, you should cooperate with the Holy Spirit to be able to develop such fruits in your life through the knowledge of the Word of God, the Bible, and prayer–using the provocations of the people around you to grow the fruits.

Peace.

REFLECT
What have your words this week revealed about what’s really in your heart

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