Confessions of a Fallen Communicator: Gospel-Saturated Lips

GOSPEL-SATURATED LIPS 

I want my lips to be saturated in the Gospel. I want the words that I speak to continually proclaim the good news of Christ’s salvation.  

God has used the example of an elder and his wife to convict my heart. No matter the topic of conversation, this elder and his wife are intentional about verbally proclaiming the Gospel in one way or another. They talk vulnerably about their own sin and their need for a Savior, and they graciously point others, who are suffering from brokenness, to the reconciling work of Christ. 

My heart is convicted and I want to verbally proclaim the Gospel but conversation after conversation I fail to do so. This failure is not due to a lack of ears waiting to hear. Thousands of people living in Northeast Denver, crying out in pain and despair, are listening for a message of hope. The ears of Christian friends struggling with sin are burning for a spoken reminder of God’s forgiveness and unconditional love. Listening ears surround me; I am not lacking the opportunity to speak. 

The reason why I am not constantly verbally proclaiming the Gospel is because my heart is not constantly saturated with the Gospel. Matthew 12:34b states, “For the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.” My words are a direct extension of the thoughts and feelings that fill my heart.

 

What then fills my heart if not the Gospel? Sometimes my heart is filled with cynicism, resulting in snide remarks. Other times my heart is discontent and I spew out complaints. Worst of all is when my heart is apathetic and indifferent toward the things of God, causing me to speak words that are contrary to Scripture.

In order for my heart to be saturated with the Gospel, my thoughts and emotions need to be centered on Gospel truths. When my heart is rooted in grace, I will be quick to apologize when I wrong another and verbally accept forgiveness when others wrong me. If my heart is joyful with the hope of eternal life, I will be able to encourage others in times of earthly trials. When I meditate on Scripture, I will quote Scripture to myself and others when there is a lack of truth. 

I confess before God that my lips are not Gospel-saturated because my heart is not Gospel-saturated. I echo this priestly prayer: “Cleanse my heart and my lips, Almighty God, that I may worthily proclaim Your holy Gospel.”[1]  Amen.

---

[1] "USCCB - Roman Missal | Priest Changes - Liturgy of The Word." United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. http://old.usccb.org/romanmissal/samples-priest-liturgy.shtml (accessed September 21, 2012).