The number of watchmen or pickets doing duty and standing guard over our actions and words will be fewer in proportion as the picket line guarding our minds, our thoughts, is a strong one. It is here that we need to be especially on the alert. "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh." This general truth is particularly exemplified in the regenerate, who are more open in their conduct and language, proportionately, than others. Having the right sentiments at heart they are less on their guard in respect to their manner of expression perhaps than previously; but all the more, they need to remember the words of the Apostle, "If any man sin not with his lips, the same is a perfect man" (Jas. 3:2).
Because of his liability to err in word and of the liability of the majority to misunderstand, and of a minority to misrepresent, the Christian must guard well his speech. The failure so to do has wrought much evil, while success in so doing has not only prevented evil but also has accomplished much good. The surest way of guarding our lips is in having the Truth fill our minds and impress its spirit upon our hearts. As we cannot do this of ourselves, how fitting that we pray the Lord to set a watch before our mouth and to keep the door of our lips. Then we will not offend in word.
Ex. 22:28; Psa. 10:7, 8; 12:3, 4; 34:13; 41:5-9; 52:2-4; 59:12; 64:2-5; 106:33; 119:23; 120; Prov. 4:24; 6:16-19; 8:13; 10:11, 19, 31, 32; 11:11; 12:5, 6, 13, 17-19; 13:3; 14:25; 15:1, 4, 28; 18:21; Matt. 12:34-37; Rom. 3:13, 14; Eph. 4:25, 29, 31; Col. 4:6; Titus 1:10, 11; 3:2; Jas. 1:19, 26; 3:5-10; 4:11; 1 Pet. 3:9, 10.
