By Fighter Verse For August 2, 2015
What man is there who desires life and loves many days, that he may see good? Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it. –Psalm 34:12-14
Our fighter verse for the week reminds us that all people desire a good and happy life. The question of the psalmist is not intended to wonder where the person might be who desires a long and happy life. But rather where the person is who would pursue long life and happiness through God’s means.
A long and happy life is sustained through the normal means of our heart, our mouth, and repentance. Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks, James tells us. So in order for the tongue to refrain from speaking evil deceit, the heart must be free from such things. The heart can only be free from such things by being washed in the blood of the slain and risen lamb Jesus. Through regeneration we are given a new and healthy heart. This new heart is able to live a life of repentance. Repentance from our text is first of all turning away from evil. We never turn away from something without turning towards the opposite. And repentance requires us not only to turn away from evil, but to turn towards good and do it.
The good that we are required to do is the seeking and pursuing of peace. The Lord has not called us to a life of passivity and laziness. It is not enough to turn away from evil, turn towards the good, and then set up the lawn chair and stare all day at the good life. We are to seek peace and pursue, or run after it. What person is there that is doing this daily? Are you?
Leading Family Devotions 