The following is an excerpt from Soldiers in Training by Brother Daryl Coats.
The Book of Numbers is a great book when looking for devotional material. In chapters 1-10 the people seem to be wholly following the commandments of the Lord. However, chapter 11 is the beginning of woes. The very first phrase is "And when the people complained, it displeased the Lord". In chapter 12, we find the murmuring moving up the ranks into the leadership and infecting Miriam and Aaron as they murmur against Moses. In chapter 13, ten of the twelve spies come back with an evil report concerning the land of promise. In chapter 14, we find the people wanting to make a captain to return to Egypt and then wanting to stone Joshua and Caleb for their report of faith. This chapter includes the decision of the Israelites not to go into the land of promise, and then their decision to go into the land of promise after the Lord told them they could no longer go in. The Israelites decide to go against the commandments of the Lord and try to take the land of Canaan on their own, only to be smitten by the Amalekites and Canaanites.
What does it mean to exercise faith? Is it praying about something and doing nothing until the answer comes? Is it foolishly walking through life with absolutely no answers?
Inside of your mouth lies one of the most dangerous weapons ever used by mankind. It has destroyed friends, families, churches and peoples. It is such a little member, but it packs a wicked punch. That member is your tongue. It ought to be used to praise the Lord and spread His word, but is most often used to devour others and spread gossip. This member of yours is so dangerous that the Bible likens it to a sharp sword or razor (Psalm 52:2; Psalm 57:4; Psalm 59:7; Psalm 64:3), to a serpent (Psalm 140:3), and to a fire (James 3:5-6). Perhaps we ought to pray like David when he said, "Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips." (Psalm 141:3).
