Sunday in Church Hosea 14:2 Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say to him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously… By "taking with us words," in speech or in sacred song, we can render to God the calves, i.e., the sacrifice of our lips. There is — I. A SACRIFICE OF SILENCE. It is a great thing to know how to serve our Lord and our neighbour by keeping our lips closed. To be silent when we are tempted to speak, but when the closed mouth is wiser and kinder than the uttered word. II. THE SACRIFICE OF TRUTHFULNESS. We are bound to truthfulness by the express commandment of God, and by the claims of our fellow-men. We render this sacrifice, not merely by refusing to stoop to downright, deliberate falsehood, but by avoiding the utterance which is fitted to convey a false impression; by avoiding the evil and pernicious habit of exaggeration and caricature. Others should be able to trust our word absolutely. III. THE SACRIFICE OF PRAISE. We can hardly conceive of Divine service without the element of praise, and this is the best and truest Christian form of the sacrifice of the lips. Unitedly, intelligently, heartily, spiritually should we render this most pleasant, most acceptable sacrifice. IV. THE SACRIFICE OF PRAYER. By utterance of our thought we help ourselves to pray; for expression kindles, sustains, directs devotion. And by uttering our thought we help others to pray. V. THE SACRIFICE OF HUMILITY AND CONFESSION. Humility is the gateway that opens into the kingdom of Christ. When with deep and true penitence of spirit we take with us words, we offer an acceptable sacrifice, and "with the mouth confession is made unto salvation." VI. THE SACRIFICE OF HELPFULNESS. By the timely, thoughtful, helpful word, we may render service to man and sacrifice to God. 1. The word of warning. 2. The word of comfort. 3. The word of encouragement. 4. The word of challenge. Thus by timely and helpful words shall we "render the calves of our lips." (Sunday in Church.) Parallel Verses KJV: Take with you words, and turn to the LORD: say unto him, Take away all iniquity, and receive us graciously: so will we render the calves of our lips. |
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