A Promise By the Forgiven

“O Lord, open thou my lips; and my mouth shall shew forth thy praise.” (Ps 51:15 AV)

Saturday is my soul-winning day.  Although I try to sneak it in during the week as I interact with people, Saturdays are the days I go out into the neighborhoods and speak with people.  It is always a blessing even though I get tongue-tied more than I’d like to admit.  David is speaking in regards to silence that came upon him because of his sin with Bathsheba.  Sin will do that to you.  The saint may be on fire for God, then sin comes and extinguishes that flame.  We feel as though we have no credibility to share the gospel when forgiveness is our greatest asset.  Lack of faith can also silence the witness.  We simply are intimidated by the challenges of the lost.  We don’t know how to give an answer.  There is ignorance as well.  We don’t know enough of the Bible.  We are challenged and we go silent because we do not know the correct response.  For David, when he realized the LORD had forgiven him for such a horrible sin as adultery and manipulation, he promised afresh to be a witness of that forgiveness.  The problem was lips that were closed.  Only the LORD, through forgiveness, or enablement, or both, can open the lips.

There is this condition that happens to me once is a while that is a bit concerning.  I become partially awake.  I feel trapped.  I am aware that I am awake, but I cannot say or do anything.  It’s called sleep paralysis.  I remember the first and last time this happened to me.  The first time I fell asleep while sitting in a chair.  I remember it so well because it seemed as though it took forever before I could move or speak.  I was terrifying.  I was aware of where I was.  I was in my living room, in my apartment; there was no one around to call out to, and I could not move or speak.  Ability to move came slowly.  At first, my arms moved.  Then my head.  Then I could cry out.  The last time was just a few nights ago.  Laying in bed, I began to awake.  But I could not move or speak.  Then, as I gained function, I cried out.  Scared my wife half to death.  The experts say there is nothing dangerous about this condition, but I beg to differ.  It doesn’t matter how many times this happens to me; it is scary nonetheless.  The inability to interact with one’s world is not a pleasant place to be.  There is nothing a person can do to overcome it.  It simply has to abate on its own.

This is how we are.  We are tongue-tied and paralyzed when it comes to sharing the good news of forgiveness in Christ.  David knew his fault lies with his sin.  Forgiveness and boldness both from the LORD; was the only answer.  But note that David promised that if the LORD opened his lips, he would praise the LORD publicly for His wonderful grace.  If the LORD would open his lips, he would show forth the praises of a merciful God who had forgiven him.  Maybe we have lost the wonder of forgiveness.  Maybe we don’t realize just how wicked our sin is.  Maybe we need revival and are not willing to admit it.  The world is lost.  They are on their way to eternal damnation.  We cannot remain silent.  We have the keys to the kingdom.  Souls depend on the faithfulness of the saints.  May God open our lips and may we make the same vow.  If God can forgive us of anything and everything, then we owe it to share that good news with others.