Clean Mouths

Read: Isaiah 6:1-8

Our mothers told us every night to brush our teeth before we went to bed. The oral hygienist gave us specific instructions on brushing our teeth. And flossing! What could be worse than running waxed string between our teeth? We’re nagged about flossing all the time too. We like the idea of having white teeth (and now we can even have our teeth whitened chemically). Oh, but there is one other minor reason we need to obey the nagging: Brushing can get a million germs out of our mouths, which keeps us from cavities, root canals, caps, and oral surgery.

A person can have a mouth that is cleaner than a new car and still have dirty stuff coming out of it. Angry words, harsh criticisms, profanities, and lies can pour out like a polluted stream. Bad words come from evil hearts. When this is our condition, we need cleansing.

God is the ultimate oral hygienist. When He calls people to follow and serve Him, He gives them a new heart and expects a clean mouth. To get Isaiah ready to speak His words, God had a seraph (a celestial being) take a live coal from the altar and cauterize his lips. (Sounds worse than a root canal to me!) And He reached down with His fingers to touch and cleanse the mouth of His prophet Jeremiah (1:9).

The New Testament reminds us again and again to speak good words. The writers of Proverbs tell us repeatedly to speak righteously. And David pleaded with God to let his words and innermost thoughts be acceptable to Him (Psalm 19:14).

Got a dirty mouth? Bow down before God and ask Him to forgive and cleanse you. Do it now! There’s no need for that hot live coal. —Dave Egner

bottom line: Words reveal what’s hidden in our heart.

soul journey