The Bible has a lot to say about the way we speak and often warns us to be careful with the words we use:

 “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”  (Proverbs 18: 21) “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1)

 

Tongues can be the end of friendships, careers, marriages, reputations and even life. Tongues can also reconcile people and make peace. Tongues can reunite marriages, families, friends and even countries. Sometimes biting one's tongue and reaching  for peace is to be commended. In Matthew 5:9 Jesus says, “Blessed are the peacemakers.”

Each day we must ask ourselves what is filling our heart?  For Jesus also said, “Out of the abundance of the heart [the mouth]  speaks” (Luke 6:45). We all know that an ungrateful heart breeds grumbling, a self-righteous heart produces judgement, and a bitter heart brings about meanness. None of which represents the life of Jesus. Instead let’s fill our hearts with “…joy, peace,  forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law” (Galatians 5: 22-23).

Be Careful What You Think

 

We live in a culture that is pulling us in every direction. In today’s verse Paul is telling us to be careful with our thoughts. Don’t let this fallen world reel you in, rather keep your focus on God  who will transform you into a new person—changing the way you think.

 

“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12: 2)

 

In this process we are being changed into the image and likeness of Christ, as we abide in Him and He in us. It is a lifelong process that requires daily vigilance. In order to become more like Him we must spend time with Him. It may  mean walking away from other things that affect our thinking such as TV or social media and delving into His word. In getting to know Him better,  His thoughts begin to become a part of our thinking and over time we look more and more like Him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Be Careful What You Watch

 

Jonathan Rothwell writes an article entitled “You Are What You Watch? The Social Effects of TV”.  In  the article he tells us that other than sleeping and working, Americans are more likely to watch television than engage in any other  activity. In addition,  he points out that there is new evidence that viewing habits can affect your thinking, political preference, even cognitive ability. If that is the case, we must ask ourselves,  what am  I watching and how is it affecting my thinking and shaping my thoughts and  decisions?   It sounds as if the words of David in the Old Testament were a warning to beware of what we watch when he says:    “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless; I hate the work of those who fall away; It shall not cling to me…” (Psalm 101: 3 ESV)    Yesterday we saw how the Bible warned us to be careful of what we listen to. Today we are warned to be careful  of  what we see. In this psalm we see King David’s devotion to integrity. He understood the importance of guarding what he “set before his eyes” because setting our gaze on worthless or wicked things or people can provide space to gain a foothold in our lives. Unless we guard our eyes and compare everything we see and hear against the Word of God, we will place our attitudes in the hands of the wrong realm. Attachments area ReplyReply allForward

Be Careful What you Listen T0

 

Yesterday we looked at several things the Bible tells us to be careful about. One of those is to be careful what you listen to. The verse we considered was from 2 Timothy:

 

³ For the time will come when people will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths. (2 Timothy 4: 3-4)  

 

The verses that proceed these verses tell about the importance of sound teaching of the truth, because we are warned that in time—truth is rejected.  That is what was happening in Ephesus where Timothy was during this time. Sound doctrine is the wholesome truth of Scripture and teaches a transformation of life in the name of Jesus Christ. 

 

But more and more Timothy found that teachers were telling the people what they would  like to hear. People wanted a teacher to suit their own desires. Instead of wanting to hear the truth they preferred novelty.  Truth is found in the teachings of  living a holy life, worshipping our Lord and Savior, and learning to be like Him as the salt and light to others in the world and then sharing His great salvation story with others. When we get off on secondary issues, we tend to wander instead. 

 

The Apostle Paul would caution all of us to keep the goal of life transformation the primary driver behind why we do what we do.

Even when the people we are speaking to are more interested in novelty than truth, we stay the course for Jesus!

 

Be Careful

Yesterday we talked about how all of the adverse happenings and  overwhelming news can negatively affect us. If we are not careful this can be  harmful.   The Bible repeatedly reminds us to be cautious about what we listen to, what we see, what we think about, and how we speak.  Here are a few verses you may want to place in your arsenal:

 

 Be careful what you hear “For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear.” (2 Timothy 4:3)

Be careful what you see –“The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light.” (Matthew 6: 22)

 “I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless…” (Psalm 101: 3a)

Be careful with your thoughts-- “Be careful what you think, because your thoughts run your life.” (Proverbs 4: 23) “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12: 2)

 Be careful with your words – “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruits.”  (Proverbs 18: 21) “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger.” (Proverbs 15:1) 

Let’s focus the eyes of our heart on Christ— and as we are directed throughout scripture—take control of our thoughts and imaginations and  let the mind of Jesus dwell in us richly. Have a blessed week!

God's Presence in Our Midst

 

Yesterday we talked about finding God in  the midst of our busy lives.  I vowed to turn off the news  and social media for the next few days and  try to be more focused on God’s presence in my midst. When we look, it is amazing what we find. I found God in the ladies at our church diligently packing boxes filled with warm food. I observed God in a homeless man who came to the kitchen door looking for something to eat.  When I delivered meals to a man who recently lost his sight, I saw God in his smile. Last  night I noticed God in the children as they silently sat as the Word of God was read. And when I  was putting gas in my car, I looked up and there it was an unexpected rainbow in the sky—a reminder of God’s covenant to never flood the earth again:

 

And God said, “This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the cloud, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. (Genesis 9: 12-13)

 

For God truly is in expected and unexpected places. Today let’s be alert to God’s presence and  continue to see Him in our daily walk.  

 

How do we find God in our busy daily lives? If we encounter God on Sunday’s alone we will be seriously lacking and incomplete. But sometimes  in the grind of life, God seems far away. We are so easily distracted by the report that must be in at a certain time, meetings here and there,  running errands, getting the kids to soccer, fixing the car and the list goes on. Then how can we discover God in the busyness of life?

 

Maybe we fail to really look for God. For God is in expected and unexpected places: the sunrise, the changing leaves, a baby’s laughter, the eyes of a stranger, the wisdom of our elders, the smile of a child— just to name a few. Today let’s be alert to God around us—let us look beyond the ordinary happenings and press on to know him more intimately!

 

"Oh, that we might know the LORD! Let us press on to know him! Then he will respond to us as surely as the arrival of dawn or the coming of rains in early spring." (Hosea 6:3)