The flashes of lightning lit up the trail and the cliffs above us brighter than the brightest day. An instant later, a cacophony of thunder clapped all around us, frightening the mules, shaking the ground and reverberating through the trees. Each strike left a man feeling fragile, helpless, as if he lay upon the anvil of God, spared once but just as easily struck down at the next bolt.”

He wasn’t half as smart as he thought he was, and that wasn’t half as smart as he bragged he was.”
                    –Robert Peecher (Along the Restless Trail)

       “Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.”
                    –James 3:5 (NKJV)
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     “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise.” –Proverbs 10:19(NKJV)
     “Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin.  Be sensible and turn off the flow!” –Proverbs 10:19(NLT)

I happened to be talking to my eldest granddaughter the other night.  She told me that she has been spending more time listening to others; it’s amazing what you can learn.  I simply replied, “wise thinking.”  It’s right out of Proverbs.  There is much danger in the way we talk, the tone of our talk, and the words that come out of our mouths.  The purpose and motives of our speech must also be taken into consideration.  The words of James should ring out, “So, then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath.” (1:19, NKJV)  In fact, he gives the warning, “If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless.” (1:26, NKJV)
     Have you ever thought, “I wish I’d kept my mouth shut,” or “I wish I hadn’t said that”?  The tongue is important.  It is a medium of expression and communication.  It is of value to express needs, wants, and desires.  It is needed in many types of transactions.  But there is also a time to keep silent.  Your tongue is a prime example of who you are, James continues to say, “Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing.  My brethren, these things ought not to be so.” (3:10, NKJV)  Bob Beasley tells us, “As the old self in use is crucified, and the new self is given a new desire and perspective, we should produce godly speech.”
     Before speaking out we should ask ourselves:  is it kind, is it true, is it profitable, is it necessary, is it godly?  This does not even include cursing, profanity and the like.  The theologian Samuel Miller said, “A man of inordinate talk runs inordinate risk.”  His words may come home to roost.  And know this, that words most often will not change a hard heart or a hard head.  “Silence is wisdom when we feel that speech would be useless to convince.” (Flores)  There are some people you could not convince no matter what you say.
     A word of warning can be seen in the example of Aaron and Miriam when they spoke against Moses taking an Ethiopian wife.  They became very arrogant, and spoke very rudely and sarcastically.  God became very angry with them, and came down calling Aaron and Miriam to Him.  We read this account in Number 12, “So the anger of the LORD was aroused against them, and He departed.  And when the cloud departed from above the tabernacle, suddenly Miriam became leprous, as white as snow.” (9-10, NKJV)  Aaron reacted and said in verse 11, “…we have done foolishly and in which we have sinned.”  The words went up before God and caused Him to become angry.  Think of that–our words can make the holy Almighty God angry.
     One more little thought.  Some people just talk to be talking.  Ever been around them?  They say very little with all their verbosity and with little regard to who they were speaking or what they were saying–they just babbled on.  Their words are like “a sword in the hand of a madman.” (Flores)  On and on and saying nothing.  Perhaps you have been in a meeting where the same person keeps repeating the same thing and the meeting is going nowhere simply because they cannot keep a bridle on their lips.

You said the finest men had been those who had fallen low and had risen. You said you had faith in me! You made me have faith in myself!”
                    –Zane Grey  (The Light of the Western Stars)

       “This testimony is true.  Therefore rebuke them sharply, so that they will be sound in the faith.”
                    –Titus 1:13 (NIV)
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          “God blesses those who are merciful, for they will be shown mercy.”  –Matthew 5:7 (NLT)

     We all, at times, have desired mercy.  I suppose that sometimes we received it while at other times…well, you know what happened.  You may have remembered your parents saying, “This hurts me more than it does you.”  So, you cried at the top of your lungs, “Show Mercy!”  I won’t get into it this lesson, but sometimes deserved discipline is showing mercy.
     One definition of mercy is the manifestation of positive good.  This is a characteristic of genuine disciples.  Arthur Pink writes, “Mercy is an essential feature of that holy character to which God has inseparably connected the enjoyment of His own sovereign kindness.”  As we show mercy, it makes us more conscious of our indebtedness of Divine grace.  One of David’s psalms says, “The wicked borrow and do not repay, but the righteous give generously.” (Psalm 37:21, NIV)  Giving does not have to include money, but it often does; when we give we can be showing mercy.  Some folks need money, others might need a helping hand, while others might need a pat on the back.  Mercy can, and is shown, in various ways.  See, when we show mercy we are reflecting the abundant mercy that is found in God.  Pink states, “The mercifulness of this fifth Beatitude is that spontaneous outflow of a heart that is captivated by, and in love with, the mercy of God.”
     Note this, that mercy is not a duty, not a drudgery, or at least it should not be.  “Mercy is to be exercised cheerfully, to demonstrate that it is not only done voluntarily, but that it is also a pleasure.” (Pink)  Wow!  Let that soak in for a few moments.  How do I then show this cheerful mercy?  First of all we are to be merciful to the souls of others.  Someone has referred to this as “spiritual alms.”  The soul, the eternal spirit of man, is what is of most importance.  Mercy should flow to them first, and at times as Jude states, “Be merciful to those who doubt; snatch others from the fire and save them; to others show mercy, mixed with fear–hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.” (Jude 22-23, NIV)
     Mercy is advising and exhorting sinners.  The early church father, Augustine said, “If I weep for that body from which the soul is departed–how should I weep for that soul from which God is departed!”  Which is the most important in the light of eternity?  Weeping at the loss of a loved one, or weeping because a loved one is away from God.  Who needs more mercy?  
     Mercy is then advising and exhorting sinners.  It is reproving sinners, and as Thomas Watson states, “do not let them go to hell quietly.”  Telling people of sin is not unloving; it is showing mercy.  Today there are many out there who are mercenaries and not ministers.  Do your job, whatever the means, to reach those who are lost and are greatly in need of mercy.  Watson warns us regarding “Evil ministers are such as having no affections to the souls of their people.”  No word to them of repentance.  No warning regarding their lifestyle.  No care given to them because of the evil way they live.  See mercy might have to be tough to pull and snatch them out of the fire.  “Unmerciful ministers who, instead of breaking the bread of life, fill their people’s heads with any speculations and notions; who tickle the fancy–rather than touch the conscience, and give precious souls music–rather than food.” (Watson)  Listen, “Ministers should be stars to give light, not clouds to obscure the truth.” (Watson)  
     Ponder this, “How dangerous is the leprosy of the head!”  The mind being eaten away by sin, doubt, need, evil, darkness–and what are we doing about it?  Evil and contentious ideas creep in destroying the foundation of truth.  How much should we then be showing mercy to those we know in this situation?  I will say, that often times we are not in a position to show objective mercy, but we can always show mercy by our prayers.