Thought for the Day

Verse 2 - All throughout Proverbs we are admonished to guard what we say, because what comes out of our mouths will determine if we are wise or foolish.

Verse 3 - No one can hide from God because He "sees all" and "knows all." The Lord is omnipresent (present everywhere) and omniscient (knows all things). No one can hide a word or deed from Him. That the unsaved do evil without restraint is understandable, since they do not know God. But many Christians act as if God were on vacation and not watching all they do. If we really believe that He hears our conversations, would we speak to family and friends the way we do?

Speaking critically to and of one's spouse is one of the things that erodes a marriage. Consistent use of negative words and critical comments will lead to destruction of the marriage, which can escalate to divorce. The threat of divorce should never be used to manipulate a spouse. Using divorce as a threat is like speaking murder to the marriage.

Words can accumulate in the spirit and cause one to react lovingly or hateful by what is spoken. The Bible warns each spouse not to return "railing for railing" but "blessing for a railing." As kind words are returned this stops the cycle of "railing for railing." "Likewise, ye husbands, dwell with them according to knowledge, giving honour unto the wife, as unto the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life; that your prayers be not hindered. Finally, be ye all of one mind, having compassion one of another, love as brethren, be pitiful, be courteous: Not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing: but contrariwise blessing; knowing that ye are thereunto called, that ye should inherit a blessing. For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile: Let him eschew evil, and do good; let him seek peace, and ensue it (1 Peter 3:7-11).

We are admonished in the Bible to seek peace and do good. We should never take our anger out on anyone, especially our mates. We are to give our anger to Jesus and ask Him to remove it, replacing it with His forgiveness, love, and patience. Often, after people get married, they cease to be courteous to one another, becoming rude and unmannerly. The Lord calls us to be as courteous to our mates as to any sister or brother in Christ. We should be kind to one another, and think about saying and doing nice things that edify our spouses and build our marriages. Let us be as a tree of life, our tongues producing words that nourish and delight the souls of others.