A gauge is a standard scale of measurement. God has shown us that the tongue is the hearts guage. We can measure how our heart is doing by what proceeds out of our mouths. Our heart is the seat of our affection. Either our affections are righteous or they are unrighteous. The tongue can bring life or it can bring death. It is a powerful member of our being. There is no in between.
God has given us a way to tell if we have a heart that is right and clean or if it is defiled and unclean. The Word of God proclaims that every word spoken in secret is going to be made manifest to all. (Luke 12:3) Nothing will be secret when we are judged by God. The bad news about this is that we are a people who have unclean lips as Isaiah was. (Isaiah 6:5) That being the case God is just in his condemnation of us. The good news is that we can be forgiven in Christ Jesus and set in the right way as Isaiah was.
My intention for bringing this up is so that you would be able to know where you stand in relation to God's will for your life. It has been a helpful guide for me. It has helped me keep my way pleasing to God. Don't get me wrong. I am constantly confessing sin. I am in constant need of repentance. Like Tertillian I see that I was born for no other reason but to repent continually. One way that I know this is by watching what I say. God desires that my speech be flavored with his grace. So constant watch on my tongue is needed. Thank God for the Cross of Christ and His promise of forgiveness and cleansing in 1John 1:9.
Mat 12:34 Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks.
Mat 15:18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and they defile a man.
Luk 6:45 A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth evil. For out of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks.
1Jo 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Eph 4:29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
Psa 19:14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart Be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer.
