July 6th - 14thJuly 15th - 24thJuly 25th - 31st
July 6th - 14th
July 15th - 24th
July 25th - 31st
July 6th - 14th
James 4:9-10
During the recent Clinton scandal that took place earlier this year, many people, myself included, ridiculed, bad-mouthed, and said many ungodly things concerning the president. Additionally, whenever someone at the workplace has done us wrong, we are all quick to say many negative things about that particular person:
"He's a terrible boss to work for!"
We curse the driver in front of us and we bad mouth the slow waiter at a restaraunt. We even complain, moan, and groan about our own spouses, kids, and relatives. We are so quick to pass the blame on to others and in so doing we degrade and slander the person as well.
On the other hand, we sing lovely songs of praise, love, and hope both to God and to others. We produce eloquent speeches that honor and glorify those around us. We encourage and motivate others and help lift up their spirits. We often tell our spouses and kids how much we love and appreciate them.
"Steve is a good, solid, worker. Promote him!"
James, the brother of Jesus, tells us in this passage, "My brothers, this should not be." As born-again Christians the ONLY things that should proceed from thy mouth is praise, honor, glory, encouragement, and only the things that help lift and build up others. The tongue is a very powerful tool indeed. It is capable of saving souls and yet it is capable of destroying many lives. For it was the tongue of Adolf Hitler that helped motivate thousands of Nazi soldiers to kill, maim, and torture six million innocent Jews during WWII. However, it was the tongue of Abraham Lincoln that helped set thousands, if not millions of black slaves free in his Emancipation Proclamation speech after the Civil War.
I have heard it said, lest nothing good can come from your mouth, don't say it at all. This statement concurs with what James said nearly two thousand years ago. What does this all tell us then? Keep a check on your tongue. Be observant of what you say. Before you say it, ask yourself, is it encouraging or is it destroying? Is it always positive or does it always seem negative? Am I lifting up or am I putting down? Am I being helpful and useful by saying it or am I instead being a burden and possibly even a discouragement?
After a full day at work and a full day at home, what have you discovered?
Is your tongue tamed, on a leash of wisdom? Or is it wild, needing to be caged? Gregory B. Dill
A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.
The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.
The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.
This story teaches two lessons:
1. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day.
2. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path.
The power of words....it is sometimes hard to understand that an
encouraging word can go such a long way. Anyone can speak words that
tend to rob another of the spirit to continue in difficult times.
Special is the individual who will take the time to encourage another.
(Psalm 121:1-2)
We tend to look to self-help books to improve upon our lifestyles. We seek guidance from counselors to help us overcome our
troubles. We resort to credit cards and unnecessary loans to bail us out of financial debts. We soothe our pain with an occasional
glass of wine or extreme exercise. We seek solitude by spending countless hours either out on the green or in the shopping malls.
The psalmist declares that his "help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." We must recognize and understand that
the Lord transcends all superficial remedies and solutions to help us overcome the problems, tribulations, and troubles that might
befall us throughout our lives. Since the Lord created the heavens and the earth, what more is it that he can most assuredly help us
- those whom he created? Contrary to what the world might believe, he is a God of love and compassion willing to help all of those who
call upon his name in times of need.
Beloved, just remember from where your source of help should be sought - the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. Gregory B. Dill
(Romans 5:8)
I know when I myself look back at my own life before my relationship began with Christ, I am repulsed by the things I partook of. Just imagine what God was thinking? He probably would've sent fire and brimstone down at me if given a chance. Or perhaps a bolt of lightning would've accomplished the task just as well. But no, instead He still loved us. Even while we were yet sinners, God still loved and forgave us. Wow! What a loving and compassionate God. How did He love us? By giving us his Son as a ransom for all. Beloved, the very moment when Christ died, He died for both you and me. He saw your sinful life before you finally relinquished it over to Him, but He also knew that they would all someday be washed clean.
Just remember, that if Christ died for us while we were sinners, imagine all the more He surely loves us now. Praise His holy name! Gregory B. Dill
"With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God's likeness. Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be."
"If you get on Michelle's bad side she'll stab you in the back!"
"Linda always seems to cop an attitude!"
"Tom doesn't ever do it right, he always messes up!"
"Pastor Johnson is an excellent preacher!"
"Our governor is doing a great job!"
"I have the best wife and kids in the whole wide world!"
July 15th - 24th"I lift up my eyes to the hills -
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord,
the Maker of heaven and
earth."
July 25th - 31st"But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
Back to Verse of the Week Archives
Back to Verse of the Week
