Temperance

Whoso offereth praise glorifieth me, and to him that ordereth his conversation aright, will I shew the salvation of God. Psalm 50:24

Just what is "conversation", and how would we order it aright? This was a use of the word from some of the older versions of the English Bible. This does not strictly mean the words a person uses, although it includes this. No, it is much broader. This "conversation" is the entirety of how you live your life. It is not what you think you are, or what you would hope you are, but what you actually are known for. Off with the mask. Outwardly you might give lip service to God, but here is what God says: 

"And the Lord said, Forasmuch as this people draw nigh unto me, and with their mouth and with their lips do honor me, but have removed their heart far from me, and their fear of me is a commandment of men which hath been taught them" Isaiah 29:13. 

The prayers might be pious, but the reality is that this is just a show. Jesus was not impressed with the religious crowd of His day. They made great outward shows of their piety. They may well have done what the law requires, at least to the letter. But they have not changed. Unlike Christian in Pilgrim's progress, they have not been to the Cross. They have never gazed upon their helpless estate before God. They are willing to go to Church on Sundays, but are not willing to acknowledge Him the rest of the week. Self is still on the throne, albeit wearing religious clothes. 

Well, this sort of conversation is not what God has in mind. He desires intimacy with man, and the heart, not formal worship, is foremost in importance. What might this look like? What doesn't it look like? How can we know if we love the LORD with "all our heart, mind and soul" or if we are just going through the motions?

Saints, we know. Where do our eyes cast their sight upon? Where do our feet take us each day? Unlike Christian and Faithful, Are we easily distracted by Vanity Fair? What we truly believe is revealed by what we do, not what we say. Gandhi said, "I like your Christ, I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ". Ouch. Our conversation is the sum of the things we do, and the world will spot a phony like Gandhi did. A man's actions are the first test. Does he have compassion on the poor? Does he treat his wife with honor? Does he have time for his kids? 

Jesus tells the religious crowd, "These things you ought to have done", but they are not enough. You can do all the things the law would require, but still not be in the Kingdom of God. The piety the LORD requires is one of Love. The basic actions are a floor, not a ceiling. the mark of a true disciple will be the man who follows the Lamb wherever He goes, from devotion, to the end of his journey here on earth. Anything less than that falls far short. Let us then press on to a conversation the LORD honors.