The Heart of the Wise
The heart of the wise teaches his mouth,
And adds learning to his lips.
Pleasant words are like a honeycomb,
Sweetness to the soul and health to the bones.
Tongues of Fire
Oh, how we need to teach our mouths and add learning to our lips. That tongue of fire, so quick to sin. We forget the power that is in it, the evil it can do (James 3). By one swipe of that fiery torch, we can start a never ending forest fire that we won’t know who is affected until the day we no longer see in part.
We tend to justify ourselves. We didn’t lie, we didn’t get angry. They did it. They started it. Did you see what they said? Did you see how they talked to me? I know they did this or that (without an eye witness). God knows, and so we shouldn’t imagine what someone has done, instead, we should continue to show them love and courtesy and kindness. Pray that we can be quick to listen and slow to anger.
Not so easy if someone has wronged us is it? But still, we’ve been given many, many examples in Scriptures of how to treat those who have, so there is where we must go to get wisdom and discernment between right and wrong (Heb 5:12-14).
Already forgiven all our sins
Fortunately, believers won’t be judged by our bad works, as we have already been forgiven all of our sins at the cross (Col 2:13-15; Acts 13:38-39). ALL of our sins have been taken away by the Lamb of God and in their place we now bear the righteousness of God through faith in Christ (2 Cor 5:21).
Some of us may be ashamed of our meager works, but in love He will still wipe away every tear from our eye. Sowing in tears, reaping with Songs of Joy one day. (Psalm 126:5-6; Revelation 5:9-10)
The New Song we sing in Heaven after the Rapture
And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; and hast made us unto our God kings and priests: and we shall reign on the earth. Rev 5:9-10
Pray for Everyone
Pray for all men (1 Timothy 2:1-6). Clamp your hand over your mouth like Job. Pray for a part of the wisdom of Solomon. Ask for more of a heart towards God like David. Pray for comfort on the days you feel like Jeremiah, and keep praying for those who revile us. Also, pray that we not return reviling for reviling, or answer in like manner to them.
When you can’t pray, ask others to pray and remember He ever lives to make intercession for us (Heb 7:25 & more).
Are we above reproach?
I know none of us are. Yet we still are asked to not murmur about others, to not dispute with others (not speaking of contending earnestly for the faith once delivered –Jude 3). So many out there arguing just like the world (or worse).
Do all things without murmurings and disputings: that ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom ye shine as lights in the world; holding forth the word of life; that I may rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither laboured in vain. Phil 2:14-16
I see so much sarcasm and biting and devouring among believers. Pride and one-upmanship. We are human and all can fall into that, yet we have to keep praying and applying our hearts to wisdom (Pr 22:17-21), He is so loving and will teach us. We look not to the wisdom of evil in this world, but instead being wise to what is good (Romans 16:19). Ask yourself, have you gotten too caught up in what is going on in the world? Conspiracy theories? Videos galore? Links upon links open or downloaded to listen to? Where is your focus?
You don’t answer to me, but we all answer to Him so maybe consider these things in prayer.
Esteeming others better than ourselves
Are we one in the Spirit? Or are we in the flesh? We can’t be likeminded if our minds are set on different things. Or if we are more concerned about ourselves first — our own interests.
Therefore if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, fulfill my joy by being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others. Phil 2:1-4
Above all, may we represent Christ in the way we should, dividing His Word correctly (and in righteousness) so that we won’t somehow be ashamed. May we try prayerfully to esteem others better than ourselves. To humble ourselves under His mighty hand and to submit to others (1 Pet 5:5-11). I know this is not an easy thing to do but still we do better if we’re humbled to Him. When our sin nature wishes to plead our case before others, may we instead plead our case before God and wait upon Him.
Jesus Christ is worthy of our best behavior in the darkest of times. I see people excuse their name-calling, their unsound speech, the lack of grace and salt seasoning it. Listen, the days grow darker, more evil, and we should already know this — and yet we are not to fret about evildoers. We are told instead to give our enemies food and water when they’re doing evil to us, and the Bible says it heaps coals of fire on their head. We don’t worry about when (or if) their conscience is affected, or the conviction from the Spirit of their sin, that is not up to us. Instead we trust in the Judge of the earth to do right.
Sometimes it may come in chastening in our own lives, maybe just about the time we’re ready to remove a beam from someone else’s eye… Ironic how the Lord works at times, but, the Lord is always good, and worthy of all praise and Honor. Hopefully we can all stir each other up to good works. Do good to others. Be salt and light in this world. Show Him love because He first loved us. We weren’t too lovely, so we should love the unlovely.
Continue in His Word, don’t slack off, we need it more than ever. Lean on His Grace, let Him be your strength. Most of all, REMEMBER OUR FIRST LOVE!
In His love.
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Holly: Thanks to you and other like-minded folks, my faith in FB as source of stimulating communication has been restored, after a season of incredible hostility.
Re: The article. I’d like to share what’s written on a sticky note in my Bible: “Prosperity Gospel is false teaching. Either as a ” Child of The King” you’re entitled to receive healing and travel around the world in a private jet. However, Paul seems to be saying the opposite hear. Paul asked God for healing the “thorn in his flesh”. But God’s answer was: ” No, my grace is sufficient for thee”.!
Jeffrey, thank you for coming to visit, I appreciate the comments always. It encourages me.
I understand what you mean about the hostility. I have thought to write another article, I have one on FB ‘frienemies’. Besides the ‘friends’ I have seen some pretty shocking things come out of the mouths of pastors, teachers, those who name His name. All for contending earnestly for the faith once delivered.
But Satan hates the good news, and he’s happy to see those street sign people out there bragging that they don’t do this, they don’t do that, and condemn those that do, rather than give them the gospel. And the gospel they share is another gospel, an accursed gospel according to God’s Word. And so we can’t bear with it.
I’m thankful for His grace (which has appeared to all men) and so very grateful that it is NOT of works, lest any man should boast. If it were, I know I could not be saved. Amazing how many believe they are saved by their works or their ‘turning from sin’. Thank the Lord for His Word (Ps 119:130, 140, 162).
In Christ, Holly