The Same Mouth

Miriam was a prophet, a leader, and a singer. In Exodus 15, she led the

women in a dance to the Lord on the day He saved them from slavery in Egypt

by parting the Red Sea and defeating the army that pursued them. In this

instance, she used her mouth for good, to sing praises to God. However, in

another incident (Numbers 12), Miriam used her mouth wrongly. She and Aaron

spoke against their brother, Moses, because of the Cushite woman he had

married. The same mouth that had sung praise to God was now backbiting and

judging Moses, the servant of God. The Bible says, the Lord heard this

(verse 2), and He summoned Moses, Aaron, and Miriam to the tent of meeting,

where He came down in a pillar of cloud and spoke to Miriam and Aaron. The

Lord corrected them and spoke what was true about Moses. Then they repented

of their sin, and God was merciful to them. We sometimes find ourselves

doing what Miriam did. In one situation, we use our mouth for good, and in

another, we use it for evil. We use the same mouth to praise God and to

slander, criticize, and belittle others. James 3:10 says, Out of the same

mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers and sisters, this should not

be. James 4:6-12 urges us to turn away from sin, including slandering and

condemning others, and instead submit to God humbly. This command comes

with a promise: Come near to God and he will come near to you (verse 8).

We are able to come to God because Jesus took all our sin upon Himself when

He went to the cross. Jesuswho always used His mouth for good and not for

evillet people insult Him and slander Him and judge Him unjustly. Jesus is

fully God, yet He showed the utmost humility (Philippians 2:5-11). He laid

down His life. And then He rose from the deadso everyone who puts their

trust in Him can be forgiven of all their sins. As Christians, we are

called to follow Jesus as our example. With the Holy Spirit’s power, let us

endeavor to use our mouths as Jesus did, for good and not for evil. Enid

Adah Nyinomujuni Have you ever been hurt by someone’s words? Have you

ever hurt someone else? How can Jesus bring healing and restoration to

these wounds? Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers

and sisters, this should not be. James 3:10 (NIV)

Read Verses:

Exod:15:20-Exod:15:21; Numbers 12; James 3:10