Watching Words is Important, Especially when there's a Disagreement

Proverbs 18:21:

"Death and life are in the power of the tongue,

And those who love it will eat its fruit."

Ephesians 4:29:

"Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers."

Proverbs 17:9:

"He who covers a transgression seeks love,

But he who repeats a matter separates friends."

Proverbs 20:19:

"He who goes about as a talebearer reveals secrets;

Therefore do not associate with one who flatters with his lips."

Psalm 34:13-14:

"Keep your tongue from evil,

And your lips from speaking deceit.

Depart from evil and do good;

Seek peace and pursue it."

Proverbs 16:28:

"A perverse man sows strife,

And a whisperer separates the best of friends."

James 1:26:

"If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is useless."

Proverbs 18:13
"He who answers a matter before he hears it,
It is folly and shame to him."

Proverbs 18:17:

"The first one to plead his cause seems right,

Until his neighbor comes and examines him."

James 4:6b:

"God resists the proud,

But gives grace to the humble."

Proverbs 18:8:

"The words of a talebearer are like tasty trifles,

And they go down into the inmost body."

Psalm 141:3:

"Set a guard, O LORD, over my mouth;

Keep watch over the door of my lips."

Proverbs 26:20:

"Where there is no wood, the fire goes out;

And where there is no talebearer, strife ceases."

James 4:11:

"Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge."

Proverbs 11:9:

"The hypocrite with his mouth destroys his neighbor,

But through knowledge the righteous will be delivered."

Matthew 18:15-18:

“Moreover if your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother.

“But if he will not hear, take with you one or two more, that ‘by the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established.’

“And if he refuses to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he refuses even to hear the church, let him be to you like a heathen and a tax collector."

Matthew 18:21-22:

"Then Peter came to Him and said, “Lord, how often shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? Up to seven times?”

Jesus said to him, “I do not say to you, up to seven times, but up to seventy times seven."

Matthew 6:14-15:

“For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.

But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."

Galatians 5:13-17:

"For you, brethren, have been called to liberty; only do not use liberty as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

For all the law is fulfilled in one word, even in this: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”

But if you bite and devour one another, beware lest you be consumed by one another!

I say then: Walk in the Spirit, and you shall not fulfill the lust of the flesh.

For the flesh lusts against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; and these are contrary to one another, so that you do not do the things that you wish."

Serve the Lord with Gladness!

Stories of adventure are all around us. It's easy to think life will be exciting after learning to drive, getting married, or reaching a certain point in a career. But maybe at present life seems boring.

If you're a Christian, your life can be an adventure as you live your life for Christ now, regardless of circumstances.

Let's look at a few things we can always do:

1. Be Salt and Light:

“You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is then good for nothing but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot by men.

“You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (Matthew 5:13-16)

Even while in prison, Paul and Silas still spread the good news by singing and praying. How could you share the gospel or encourage another believer today?

2. Exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit:

No matter the circumstance, you can be loving, joyful, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled.

Let's look at three specific commands regarding our attitudes:

a. Don't worry:

“Therefore I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Which of you by worrying can add one cubit to his stature?

“So why do you worry about clothing? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; and yet I say to you that even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not much more clothe you, O you of little faith?" (Matthew 6:25-30)

b. Be godly and content:

"Now godliness with contentment is great gain." (1 Timothy 6:6)

"...I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." (Philippians 4:11b-13)

c. Rejoice always:

"Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!" (Philippians 4:4)

"Rejoice always, pray without ceasing," (1 Thessalonians 5:16-17)

Whether or not you are accepted to college, your family is perfect, or you have it all together, you are commanded not to worry but to be content and even rejoice.

If you were thrown in jail for being faithful to Christ and all your plans were messed up, you could still meditate on God's word and grow closer to Him. How about now? Whatever state you're in, you can be content.

3. Give Your Life for Christ:

“But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you." (Matthew 6:33)

“He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it." (Matthew 10:39)

How can you be a servant for God today? Maybe it's by doing some great work that's seen by many, but perhaps God has currently given you the mission of honoring your parents, seeking to be faithful and diligent, or spending time reading a Bible story to your siblings.

What about dreams and goals? Surrender those to God and look for how you can serve Him now.

Conclusion:

It's so easy to think we'd be different if our circumstances were different. But if you will surrender your life and be a servant of God—by praying and studying God's word and being a godly child, spouse, student, or missionary (you name it!)—you can be different now!

If you lived in Nazi Germany, do you imagine you'd fight for life and be faithful to God? Today America is a country that murders the unborn, promotes sinful lifestyles, and is turning away from God. What a great time to shine our lights!

If we had financial security, better relationships, better grades, or more future prospects, we imagine we'd be happier. But Christians already have the most important relationship, a promise that God will take care of our needs, and a fulfilling calling as servants of the most high.

The Great Debate: Dr. Bahnsen vs Dr. Stein

My parents knew the late Dr. Greg Bahnsen and say that despite being a brilliant man, he could explain complex ideas very well and was also very kind to people.

In 1985 he debated Dr. Gorden Stein on the issue of God's existence.

Enjoy!

Meditating on God's Word

Quick quiz for you:

Q: What does God command in His word?

A. To read the Bible in a year.
B. To meditate on His word.

If someone has posed this question to me years ago I would have answered B, which is the correct answer. However, for years I've read the Bible every year. This isn't necessarily wrong, but when combined with memorization and prayer and the rest of life, it becomes tough.

Earlier this year it became a real challenge for me. I became extremely busy with work and was forcing myself to read without really reflecting on the meaning of the words. (Now that I think about it, I think I have faced this issue in years past too.) When I shared my troubles with my dad, he recommend I read more slowly. The fruits of this immediately started showing: More peace and joy, better understanding of the word and how it applies, and much more desire to come back to the word.

Soon after this I saw Dr. James Tour's testimony and I looked up his website. On it he boldly shares his faith and also recommends meditating on God's word: https://www.jmtour.com/personal-topics/impact-of-the-scripturesfaith-of-a-scientist/

Dr. Tour shares the blessings of meditating on God's word, which is biblical. Now I make it my aim to meditate on God's word, and I have already experienced so many blessings from it.

"Oh, how I love Your law! It is my meditation all the day." (Psalm 119:97)