Words Can Hurt You

A current insurance commercial makes me chuckle. A cowboy riding off into the sunset is unexpectedly knocked off his horse by "THE END" as he rides under (but not quite clear of) those words on the screen. Words can really hurt you!

Proverbs 16:28 "A perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends."  NIV

Proverbs 16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends." ESV

In the same chapter of Proverbs, the opposite result comes from encouragement:

Proverbs 16:21 "The wise in heart are called discerning, and gracious words promote instruction." NIV

Proverbs 16:21 "The wise of heart is called discerning, and sweetness of speech increases persuasiveness." ESV

In Children's Bible Hour we listen to a song about gossip. The song was written by Keith Lancaster to encourage young list

eners to watch what they say behind someone's back. We all need to think before we speak about someone without knowing facts.

Don't Be Talkin' 'Bout Friends

Words and music: Keith Lancaster © 1989 Anthony K. Music (ASCAP).  The link below will let you listen to Acapella sing the song      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FsG1mx9u8H0

Lyrics:

Of all the things to do to a friend

You hurt them by your tongue.

Relationships will fatally end

Without a knife or gun.

Waitin' till you're back behind them,

Then you put them down

How could you be talkin' 'bout them

When they're not around?

Chorus:

Don't be talkin' 'bout friends when they're not around

Don't be cuttin' their hearts and puttin' them down.

Don't be temptin' the Lord and makin' Him frown,

Don't be talkin' 'bout your friends when they're not around.

How all the gossip falls on our ears

It doesn't make much sense,

How we can cause the innocent tears,

Not helping their defense.

Listening, we all should fear it,

Listening is wrong.

If there were no one to hear it

It could not go on.

Repeat Chorus

Too many friendships have been broken

By just a simple, careless word spoken.

Repeat Chorus (x2)

Don't be talkin' down, throwin' down, cuttin' down friends

Why not treat them more like friends (when they're not around)?

Don't be saying lots of things, overlook the hurt it brings

Don't be talkin' bout your friends (when they're not around).

Speak directly to someone rather than about a person without knowing facts. Find the truth first. Encourage, don't discourage and dishearten.

Matthew 18:15 "If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother." ESV

 

We may not recognize that we are spreading gossip. What we say to others may be disguised as "conversation" or "concern". If you have a concern about a brother or sister, the directive from Matthew 18 should be followed. We cannot build up the Church if we allow the evil one rein over our tongue rather than the Spirit of God.

Don't listen to gossip. It is divisive. It will grow and morph as it spreads to others. Churches have split over untruths. Guard your heart from the evil one through Christian love.

Dear God, Please continue to guide our thoughts and words. Help us to encourage others, and build them up. We need your Spirit in us to prevent discord that festers and breaks apart our Christian family.

Sherilyn Svien

Stephenville, TX

The Courtyard

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.    Matthew 26: 69

Only a few hours earlier, with Jesus and facing an angry mob Peter was ready to fight.  Now in the courtyard, the focus of the enemy is on Peter.  If Peter acknowledges he is a follower of Christ he faces death.   He has no time to think and nowhere to hide.  A life or death moment, and he falls.

We don't get to choose the timing of these crucial faith moments.  They sneak up on us like a thief, catching us off guard.  My moments have not been life or death yet still they are the same.  I either deny Christ or confess Him by the choices I make.  If in the small things I do not resist the enemy there is no way I'll be ready when I am confronted with......     Even this is a scheme as I begin to categorize and rationalize my "little" weaknesses with the false security that I would never fall to a greater, more evil temptation;   not realizing I am already trapped.  The danger is I am drawn away from the love and protection of Christ by my own choosing, satisfying myself rather than allowing Christ to satisfy me.   It is my selfish, willful leaving accompanied by a loss of self-awareness.  And I lose sight of the wonder and joy of being with Christ.

Peter was ready the next time he was confronted by the enemy.  He lives from the direct experience of encountering firsthand the incredible mercy and forgiveness of Jesus despite denying him 3 times.  He's guilty, he knows he deserves punishment and he is overwhelmed with shame and regret, yet Jesus forgives and calls him back.   With that experience and a new understanding of the Kingdom Peter is a changed man.  In Acts there are multiple imprisonments and life or death encounters by Peter as he shares the story of Jesus.  There is no longer any fear or confusion in Peter in claiming Christ.  Ultimately history says Peter was crucified upside down.   He was ready, even to die for The One who had already saved him.

For so long my walk of faith was focused on the wrong things.  Being right, being good, doing, going and it was all about my kingdom.   I was in the courtyard like Peter, watching from a distance and not really with Jesus.    Just like Peter, and in my own life Jesus calls us back with great love and incredible mercy.   He never gives up on us and He will do more than we can ask or imagine when we choose Him each day.

Father, every day I face choices of staying at a distance in the courtyard or being right at your side.   Draw me ever nearer to you until I can never let go.  In Jesus name.

Scotty Elston
Shallowater, Tx