“Rumors are dainty morsels that sink deep into one’s heart.”
Proverbs 26:22 NLT
Sin is usually very attractive. The serpent in the Garden of Eden didn’t say, “This fruit is only average. It won’t do much for you.” On the contrary, he made the fruit incredibly attractive to Eve by telling her it would make her like God.
“Fire goes out without wood, and quarrels disappear when gossip stops.”
Proverbs 26:20 NLT
If you have ever sat around a campfire on a cool autumn night, you know how important it is to keep adding wood to the fire. Once you stop adding wood, the fire dies.
This verse teaches us that gossip and arguments have the same relationship as wood and fire. Gossip will feed an argument and keep it burning hot. But if we remove gossip, if we stop gossiping, the argument will die.
When people are caught up in an argument, they will often use whatever weapons they can to defeat their opponent. This includes gossip. People will gossip in an attempt to sway people toward their side of the argument. Some people will gossip in an attempt to keep the argument going because they like the drama. None of this is okay.
Folks, the Bible tells us that instead of getting caught up in quarrels, we should look for ways to make peace. When gossip stops, peace follows, because there is nothing left to fuel the fire. As you spend time with your friends and family today, look for ways to make peace by refusing to be a gossip.
“But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear;”
1 Peter 3:15 NKJV
The Bible tells us to share the Good News about Jesus with others. But it does not tell us how they will respond. It would be great if they all immediately dropped to their knees and believed that Jesus died for their sins. But that’s not likely to happen.
What is likely to happen is that they will challenge us with statements or questions like these:
Continue reading “Thoughts From 1 Peter 3:15”“Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin.”
James 4:17 NKJV
“Let’s say, you see someone carrying a large bag of groceries. Their bag tears and their groceries fall onto the ground, with some of them rolling all around.
You know that you should stop and help them, but you have somewhere to go and don’t want to stop, so you go on by. Since they didn’t see you, can’t you get away without helping?
Folks, as believers, we know what is right, and because of this knowledge, we will be held to a higher standard. Sometimes, we don’t sin by doing but by not doing.
Remember, we should always be on the lookout for the work that God wants us to do. We need to be open to, and obedient to, the voice of the Holy Spirit as He leads us.
“Let no one despise your youth, but be an example to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in spirit, in faith, in purity.”
1 Timothy 4:12
Paul is writing to Timothy, who was serving as a pastor at Ephesus. Timothy was young for a pastor, which is why Paul tells him not to let anyone look down on him because of his age.
Continue reading “Thoughts From 1 Timothy 4:12”
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