Judge Not #2

 Judge Not #2

Back “in the day” when I was a young divorced single parent and a baby believer, I wanted to be around other Jesus lovers who was as zealous as I was and take the earth for Christ! Where were all the radicals like me, that could set the neighborhood on fire? I went to church and one of the first things I heard a deacon say about me, “She’ll lose her fire and calm down before too long.” My thoughts? Right then, I was determined to keep my fire and keep watering the word inside my heart. The man who spoke those words over me did not realize how painful they were. Was I wrong to be excited about the love I’d found in Christ? I think not.

Our careless words can crush innocent hearts. 

Our words will either encourage, give hope and love, building up faith or they will be used to mulch a destiny of division, destruction and discouragement. 

The answer is not to use a whip with God’s word, but to scatter His kindness that leads men to repentance. 

“Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.”  Pr. 18:21 kj

Science has captured on film when we speak harsh words to our plants, their leaves begin to slowly curl up. Indifference can also be a killer. But, when we tell them how well they are doing, they will flourish. This is the way with our spouse, our children and pets too, when we speak kind words they thrive. Ex. When we praise our mates for a job well done, they try to do even better. And, so it is with the body of believers. 

One of the surprising virtues I have noticed about some TV ministers who are successful is that, you will never hear them put down other ministers. These men and women are too busy walking and talking the word with their work in Christ to give thought about those who “aren’t right.” Are they all right and perfect? Of course not, but neither are we. Though, many are relentlessly attacked by the world and other christians, they never retaliate. They understand the power of the tongue. 

Why are sheep so quick to believe the worse and repeat something negative they have read or heard about another brother or sister?  

Why do we take our words for granted, assuming others understand? We can season them with salt and extend the grace we ourselves have received or we can angrily run roughshod over those we declare we love. For example, one of the worse things in a marriage can be when a partner speaks through contempt. Contempt is spoken because the marriage has been bruised or broken and there is a total disregard over another’s feelings, because in their eyes you are now worthless. The lack of love in our words can open up doors we do not want to walk through, whether it is in a marriage, at work or aimed at someone you do not even know. Either way, it is our own hearts that need to be examined, not those whom we cast stones. 

Lastly, remember in the book of Acts in chapters 7-9 when Stephen had his vision and was stoned, Saul stood by giving his approval. Persecution broke out violently to destroy the believers of Christ. Saul was still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of Christ and while he was on the way to Damascus a bright light [some believe this to be lightning] from heaven flashed around him and he fell to the ground and he heard a voice say to him, “Saul, Saul why do you persecute ME ?” 

Saul looked up, but was blinded and asked who are you?

“I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” he replied.

Saul was persecuting the believers, how could he persecute Jesus Christ? Because Jesus Christ is the head of the Christian Church. He holds us up, he is the Cornerstone. All those who believe belong to Him! We have His Holy Spirit inside of us. We are His Bride. He is the Son of God.  

My point is, while Saul was going house to house, gathering up the believers, imprisoning and killing them, because of their belief in Jesus Christ the Messiah, he was not only persecuting believers but Jesus Christ. His words of anger were directed to the flock through angry threats and killings like what happened to Stephen. Jesus said to Saul, “Why do you persecute ME?” 

When we speak harm against another believer, we are speaking against Jesus Christ, the Son of God. Let’s pray.

Prayer:

Precious Father,

Thank you for revealing to me the seriousness of our words towards those whom you love. I ask you would forgive me for all the unthinking and careless words I have spoken. I ask your Holy Spirit would guard my heart, my mind, my soul and my mouth to bring seeds of love, kindness and encouragement that would give you glory and lift up and strengthen those that would hear.

In Jesus I ask. Amen

Stay tuned for #3 Judge Not