I heard about a man who was shown the lines of people entering heaven and hell. Jesus stood in heaven’s doorway, greeting each new occupant. Before each person entered, Jesus asked them, “Did you learn how to love?”

That Christ asked this question is significant. I have to come to believe that we don’t automatically know how to love as Christ commands; it is something we must be willing to learn and apply. Amongst believers, this is highly important because the old nature likes to rear its head whenever and wherever it finds a crack.

Just the other day I heard about some believers who talk entirely too much about other people, including their own family members. It has come to the point that at least one in their family feels unloved by them – and feels these believers treat them as though they are beneath them. This is a problem! I don’t think many overly talkative believers realize that what they say, where they say it and to whom, may actually hurt those they are speaking about.

For those of us who have received the insulting blows of big mouth stretchers, the Bible teaches us not to pay attention to what such people say — remembering that we too have, at some point, done the same. We should, as the Word says, study to be quiet because our tongues can get us into a world of trouble and prove our profession of love to be no more than a clanging cymbal (1 Cor 13).

In order to dwell in God’s Kingdom, we must keep our words under control. We can’t’ just allow ourselves to have loose lips.

Let’s take a closer look.

Psalms 15:3

He that backbiteth not with his tongue –

4. He is one who treats his neighbor with respect. He says nothing that might injure him in his character, person, or property; … he is author of no slander, he insinuates nothing by which his neighbor may be injured. The tongue, because of its slanderous conversation, is represented in the nervous original as kicking about the character of an absent person; a very common vice, and as destructive as it is common: but the man who expects to see God abhors it, and backbites not with his tongue.– A. Clarke Nor doeth evil to his neighbor –
   5. He not only avoids evil speaking, but he avoids also evil acting towards his neighbor. He speaks no evil of him; he does no evil to him; he does him no harm; he occasions him no wrong. –A. Clarke

   Nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour –

   Or receiveth, or endureth. The tale-bearer carrieth the devil in his tongue; the tale hearer in his ear…. Not only he that maketh a lie, but he that loveth it, is excluded heaven, Rev_22:15. It is evil to sow reports and slanders, but worse to harrow them in. The heathen could say, He that easily believeth slanders… is either a knave[untrustworthy man] or a fool.  – John Trapp

We must examine our words, and always be mindful of the things we say and do!

Until next time!

Juanita Deloris

Talk about it!

Do you believe our words are important?

Have you ever spoken words that come under vilification of another?

Have you ever been the recipient of such talk from another person?

Do you strive to make sure your words please the Lord at all times?

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