Does anyone know what I am talking about??? I'll give you a hint: James 3:8-10... ring a bell? I am talking about the TONGUE.
"but no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With
the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have
been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing.
My brothers, this should not be." James 3:8-10
In our dorm meeting last Monday, we looked at many different passages dealing with the "untameable tongue." By the end of our discussion, we had all concluded the same thing: that our tongues were made to encourage each other instead of bring others down. We should not let what rolls off the tongue contradict the godly lifestyle we have chosen to live as well as profess to live. This includes "kidding around." It's very easy as friends to say something that might be less-than encouraging. However, when we stop to think about this, a variety of outcomes are possible.
In view of our calling to witness, we must watch what comes out of the mouth. One possible outcome of "kidding around" pertains to the unbeliever. Imagine that you are in a group setting, mixed with both believers and unbelievers. You say something to your close friend that can be taken as hurtful. Now, that person may know, through having a relationship with you that the comment should be passed off as nothing. However, think about the unbeliever(s) in this group. If they do not know you as well, they will see this comment as hurtful. Where is the love of God in this? I am absolutely positive they will not see it, for it is not there. Rather, we should always be ready to encourage so that others will see a picture of the love of God.
Another outcome pertains to the one the statement was directed to. They appear to shrug off the comment at that moment, but what if they leave the area and Satan uses that comment to put doubt in their mind. They may begin to wonder if you really meant it or not. Those words will always be in their mind and may hinder them from future service for the King.
Rather than use words that in no way portray the attributes of our Savior, Jesus Christ, it is important that we encourage each other. I mentioned a tactic I used at the daycare for the kids when they had a problem with insults. For every bad statement about another or themselves they made, they then had to think of ten positive, non-superficial statements about that same person. So from this we (the ladies in our dorm meeting) were encouraged to use this same tactic in our lives, only we narrowed it down to five positives. Since that day, I find that I have had to use that rule more than anyone else. It has, however, caused me to think about how often I say harsh words to others as a joke. It also has caused me to think about all the attributes others contain that encourage me daily.
I sugguest that you take on this challenge as well. You might be surprized at the results!
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Friday, October 09, 2009
Psalm 62:1-8
"Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved. How long will you attack a man? You shall be slain, all of you, like a leaning wall and a tottering fense. They only consult to cast him down from his high position; they delight in lies; they bless with their mouth, but they curse inwardly. Selah. My soul, wait silently for God alone, For my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved. In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strenth, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah."
One of my professors here at SBC, whom I have grown to love has been emphasizing this passage in my Spiritual Life class. He gave us some advice in regards to verses 1-2 and 5-8. "Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved." And again, "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved, In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah." The key to a life of no disappointment and no anger, he says is to never trust anyone. WHAT?!? We spend our entire lives building trusts with the people we live and work and interact around. When you get a job, you trust that your employer will recognize the efforts you put in to that job. When a husband comes home from work in the evening, he trusts, or expects there will be food ready for him, or will be shortly. That's the key word: expect.
Verse 5 says that "For my expectation is from Him." In other words, we are not to place our trust in people. Psalm 146:3-4 explains that there is no help in man, for "his breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Therefore, we are to trust God through His people; God will use whom He needs for His will to be accomplished. Wives, when your husbands do not come home at their routine time and you become worried, it is because you have placed a false hope in your husband. As my professor put it, "you have trapped them within your expectations."
Now, returning to living a life without anger, this professor explained that by never having expectations of anyone but God, then there is no need for anger. You will never be disappointed in the outcome because you never expected one!
Now I understood what it meant to not place your trust in people. But how does one go about doing this?! It's harder than it sounds!!!
My challenge to you, as my professor urged my class to do, is to write down all the expectations you have of others in your life and from that, grow into placing those expectations on the Lord. Expect God's will to be done. Expect that He will take care of His children. Expect Him to use those around you to accomplish His will.
This will be my challenge this week, and hopefully for the remainder of my life. I hope that you will use this too to obtain an end result of glorifying God.
One of my professors here at SBC, whom I have grown to love has been emphasizing this passage in my Spiritual Life class. He gave us some advice in regards to verses 1-2 and 5-8. "Truly my soul silently waits for God; From Him comes my salvation. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved." And again, "My soul, wait silently for God alone, for my expectation is from Him. He only is my rock and my salvation; He is my defense; I shall not be moved, In God is my salvation and my glory; the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Trust in Him at all times, you people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. Selah." The key to a life of no disappointment and no anger, he says is to never trust anyone. WHAT?!? We spend our entire lives building trusts with the people we live and work and interact around. When you get a job, you trust that your employer will recognize the efforts you put in to that job. When a husband comes home from work in the evening, he trusts, or expects there will be food ready for him, or will be shortly. That's the key word: expect.
Verse 5 says that "For my expectation is from Him." In other words, we are not to place our trust in people. Psalm 146:3-4 explains that there is no help in man, for "his breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish." Therefore, we are to trust God through His people; God will use whom He needs for His will to be accomplished. Wives, when your husbands do not come home at their routine time and you become worried, it is because you have placed a false hope in your husband. As my professor put it, "you have trapped them within your expectations."
Now, returning to living a life without anger, this professor explained that by never having expectations of anyone but God, then there is no need for anger. You will never be disappointed in the outcome because you never expected one!
Now I understood what it meant to not place your trust in people. But how does one go about doing this?! It's harder than it sounds!!!
My challenge to you, as my professor urged my class to do, is to write down all the expectations you have of others in your life and from that, grow into placing those expectations on the Lord. Expect God's will to be done. Expect that He will take care of His children. Expect Him to use those around you to accomplish His will.
This will be my challenge this week, and hopefully for the remainder of my life. I hope that you will use this too to obtain an end result of glorifying God.
Monday, January 28, 2008
White, white, more white....and a dash of ash!
The Lord Is Wonderful....ain't HE? I remember as a kid we used to make up reasons for snow (ie- God has dandruff!). It truly is an amazing, yet dangerous wonder that God has created. It's beautiful, yet could kill a man in an instant. Snow can be held as a small picture of the things of this world. They may look beautiful and seem benevolent, but are disasterous to your spiritual life. When you drive on snow or ice, you have to stay mega alert. You can slip at any moment (know this from personal experience) or an animal can jump out and then it's good night charlie! The same goes for temtation...you have to keep your guard up to evils that will corrupt you, because it is so easy to slip. well i was gonna do a picture too, but my internet has been funky lately so....
Matthew 7: 13 & 14: (KJV)
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Matthew 7: 13 & 14: (KJV)
Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
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