Pastor Barry's  "Chapter & Verse"  Day 15

January 15;      I Peter 3:10;       224/260(III);        ‘A Happy Life’

1 Peter 3:10 For the Scriptures say, "If you want a happy life and good days, keep your tongue from speaking evil, and keep your lips from telling lies.     NLT

Peter is talking about relationships in this chapter.  The relationship of a husband and wife and relationships with others.  Peter, by the Holy Spirit tells us that what we say plays a big part in having a happy life and good days.  Dealing with people and how we get along with them hinges on what we say to them and how we say it.  Relationships are built and maintained by what we say.  ‘Evil’ words are just that.  They can hurt, belittle, mock and do many other damaging things.  Why would a Christian ever speak like this to anyone?  The love of God which has been deposited in our spirit by the Holy Spirit will help us to speak respectfully and kindly to everyone.  The Lord Jesus has told us that others will know that we are His disciples by our love. Evil also means worthless.  God’s Word exhorts us not to talk too much and to think about what we will say to others prior to saying it.  Incessant talking almost always leads to saying something inappropriate and it is very inconsiderate.  This verse also warns us of lying.  Since Peter is stressing relationships in this chapter, he had to mention the harm lying does to any relationship.  Relationships are built on honesty.  There needs to be the ability to trust one another.  That trust is destroyed by lying.  Honesty is a vital part of a relationship.  That includes your relationship with the Lord.  If you are a liar it will be very hard for your faith to work.  Guard what you say.  How vitally important this is.