Be careful how you speak

 

Be careful how you speak

 

Matthew 15:10 – Jesus said listen and understand. What goes into a man’s mouth does not make him unclean, but what comes out of his mouth that makes him unclean. Matthew 15:18, 19 – But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart and these make a man unclean. For out of the heart comes evil thought, murder adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false testimony, slander. These are what make a man unclean. Matthew 10:28 – Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in hell.

 

The Lord cautions us to be aware of those who we hang around with. I find it easy to be cynical, attempting to fit into the crowd of friends or people I find myself surrounded with.

 

Cynical – one who believes all human action has a selfish motive.

 

It is easy to let your moral high ground down for the sake of seeking acceptance from others. Most of us are so desperate or longing to be loved and accepted that we sacrifice our morals just to fit in. We have to be very careful of what we say and do. Be on guard don’t let the evil one gain a foothold. He will use everyone and anything to separate you from the love of God. Our need to feel accepted by a group, especially when we are young is tremendous.

 

Peer pressure corrupts even the holiest of holy.

 

Look at the story of Peter – Matthew 26:69-75.

Now Peter was sitting out in the courtyard, and a servant girl came to him. “You also were with Jesus of Galilee,” she said.

⁷⁰ But he denied it before them all. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he said.

⁷¹ Then he went out to the gateway, where another servant girl saw him and said to the people there, “This fellow was with Jesus of Nazareth.”

⁷² He denied it again, with an oath: “I don’t know the man!”

⁷³ After a little while, those standing there went up to Peter and said, “Surely you are one of them; your accent gives you away.”

⁷⁴ Then he began to call down curses, and he swore to them, “I don’t know the man!”

Immediately a rooster crowed. ⁷⁵ Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken: “Before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.” And he went outside and wept bitterly.

Here was Peter, an apostle of the Lord, one of Jesus’ closest friends and followers. Moments after Jesus was arrested, he found him among a group of fellow Israelites. See Matthew 6:11 – If any place does not welcome you or listen to you shake the dust off your feet and leave, as a testimony against them. Three times they questioned him about his association and affiliation with Jesus and three times he denied knowing him. He lied to protect himself thinking he too may be taken and put in jail along with Jesus. He was influenced by the crowd, his desire to survive and not be associated as a follow of Jesus was stronger that his desire to be a follower of the Lord. In that moment of weakness Peter’s faith, honest, integrity broke down and he lied. If Peter can do it having known Christ just guess how difficult it is for us who have never seen Christ. In Peter’s case, Jesus even predicted Peter would deny him and that did not even stop Peter from doing it.

 

Our need to fit in, to be accepted is no less difficult. To maintain the moral high ground, to hold fast to our convictions, to be willing to be shunned from our friends because of our beliefs can only be done with the strength of the Lord. It is easy to follow the crowd, to participate in something you know is wrong, in these moments of weakness it is important to know that our Heavenly Father will never leave or forsake us, he will always love us even though it may seem no one else does, we can find strength in prayer and guidance by the Holy Spirit.

 

No one said following the Lord was going to be easier; in fact it is easier to not be mindful of his commands. The problem with this is that it leads to pain, misery and sorrow no matter how we want to mask it our lives are miserable.

 

When you follow Christ and obey his commands it may seem at times you are all alone, however the Lord is always there with you. The key is not to feel alone, rejected or unloved. See Mark 1:45 – Jesus stayed outside in lonely places.

 

It is important not to get caught up in self-pity and feelings of worthlessness. This is of course what the devil desires you to feel so that next time you are presented an offer to sin; you take it so as not to have those feelings of loneliness again. If anyone rejects you because of your faith in Jesus and your impeccable integrity move on, there are plenty of people in the world who would appreciate having such a friend.

 

Don’t give up hope; remember to lay up your treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust can destroy. Eternal salvation is your goal; keep your eye single to this glory. Men will come and men will go but our Lord is the same yesterday, today and forever. Remember to think before you speak, it is better to listen than to add a comment that will corrupt your soul. The Lord our father is a forgiving, merciful soul so if you do falter, please ask his forgiveness. Come before him and ask him for forgiveness, if you have caused harm or injury to another, pray to the Lord that they will soften their heart and forgive you. Then go to them and say you are sorry, don't be so filled with pride that you can’t go and humble yourself before another. We are all called to live in peace and harmony. Avoid conflict with your brother. Stop and think before you speak, is what I am about to say pleasing to the Lord, if not, don’t say anything. As my mom used to tell me if you don’t have something nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

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