2026年11月4日｜星期三
今日经文
【西番雅书3:9】
“那时，我必使万民用清洁的言语，好求告我耶和华的名，同心合意地侍奉我。”
【西番雅书3:13】
“以色列所剩下的人必不作罪孽，不说谎言，口中也没有诡诈的舌头；而且吃喝躺卧，无人惊吓。”
【雅各书3:11】
“泉源从一个眼里能发出甜苦两样的水吗？”
灵修：凭信心回应神洁净的应许
“我必使万民用清洁的言语。”西番雅书3:9以神的应许，开启了一幅生命更新的图画。神要洁净人的口，使万民求告祂的名，同心合意地侍奉祂。
这应许让我们有盼望：神已经应许要使属祂的人有洁净的口。面对自己言语中的软弱，我们可以来到祂面前，信靠祂洁净、更新的工作。这并不表示我们从此不会说错话，而是我们有了倚靠祂、学习改变的根基。
从第9节往下读，我们看见口舌与内心紧密相连。第11节提到神要除去骄傲、自高；第12节描绘谦卑、投靠耶和华的百姓；到了第13节，他们“不说谎言，口中也没有诡诈的舌头”。洁净的言语，流露出谦卑、信靠神的心。
雅各书第三章也提醒我们：同一张嘴，怎能一面颂赞神，一面咒诅照着神形象受造的人？雅各用泉源作比喻：“泉源从一个眼里能发出甜苦两样的水吗？”
言语如水，内心如泉源。心中若藏着骄傲、苦毒与嫉妒，这些往往会在受冒犯时，从口中流露出来。因此，当我们说出伤人的话，除了承认、道歉，也需要让神光照：是什么心思，使我这样说话？
神的应许邀请我们凭信心回应。每天开口之前，我们可以稍作停顿，让圣灵提醒我们：这句话真实吗？带着恩慈吗？能造就人吗？当我们说错了，也愿意谦卑悔改，及时修复关系。
神洁净我们的口，是要使我们求告祂，也能彼此同心。愿我们的言语逐渐成为祂更新生命的见证，使人得安慰、关系得建立，让我们肩并肩地侍奉祂。
今日默想
我是否相信，神也能洁净、更新我的言语？
今天，我愿意让祂光照哪一种说话习惯，并凭信心学习说诚实、温柔、造就人的话？
God Promises to Give Us Purified Lips
4 November 2026 | Wednesday
Today’s Scripture
【Zephaniah 3:9】
“Then I will purify the lips of the peoples, that all of them may call on the name of the LORD and serve him shoulder to shoulder.”
【Zephaniah 3:13】
“They will do no wrong; they will tell no lies. A deceitful tongue will not be found in their mouths. They will eat and lie down and no one will make them afraid.”
【James 3:11】
“Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”
Devotion: Responding in Faith to God’s Promise of Purification
“I will purify the lips of the peoples.” Zephaniah 3:9 opens a picture of renewed life with God’s promise. He will purify people’s lips so that they may call on His name and serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
This promise gives us hope: God has promised to purify the lips of those who belong to Him. When we struggle with our speech, we can come before Him and trust in His cleansing and renewing work. This does not mean we will never say the wrong thing again. It gives us a foundation for depending on Him and learning to change.
As we read on from verse 9, we see how closely our speech is connected to our hearts. Verse 11 speaks of God removing pride and arrogance. Verse 12 describes a humble people who take refuge in the Lord. By verse 13, they “tell no lies,” and no deceitful tongue is found in their mouths. Purified speech flows from a humble heart that trusts in God.
James chapter 3 reminds us of the same truth: how can the same mouth praise God and curse people made in His likeness? James uses the picture of a spring: “Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?”
Our words are like flowing water, and our hearts are like the spring. If pride, bitterness, and envy remain within us, they often spill out through our words when we feel offended. When we speak hurtfully, we need to acknowledge it and apologise. We also need to let God search our hearts: what attitude led me to speak this way?
God’s promise invites us to respond in faith. Before speaking each day, we can pause and allow the Holy Spirit to remind us: Is this true? Is it gracious? Will it build someone up? When we speak wrongly, we can humbly repent and take steps to restore the relationship.
God purifies our lips so that we may call on Him and live in unity with one another. May our words increasingly bear witness to His renewing work—bringing comfort, strengthening relationships, and helping us serve Him shoulder to shoulder.
Today’s Reflection
Do I believe that God can purify and renew my speech?
What habit of speaking am I willing to let Him examine today, and how can I respond in faith by speaking words that are truthful, gentle, and encouraging?
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