Deliver my soul, O Lord, from lying lips and a deceitful tongue. Psalm 120:2
We live in the days where society including much of the Church as redefined the meaning of many words. The truth is, we have done so for the purpose of validating our sins by not calling them sins. One example for those who would call themselves Christians is to ignore the privilege they have to fellowship with other Christians in the Church. There are some who do attend but do so grudgingly out of duty rather than delight. "Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some, but exhorting, and so much the more, as we see the day approaching." Hebrews 10:25. The day our writer is speaking of is the Day of our Lord. Gossip is perhaps the sin most often committed by most Christians on a regular basis. The reason is that we have redefined the meaning of the word. Merriam-Webster defines Gossip: "a person who habitually reveals personal or sensational facts about others" The bible calls them whisperers because they don't want others to hear what they say about others. Christians are not yet fully redeemed from our sinful flesh nature and we do miss the mark at times however, a true Christian will quickly since The Fathers displeasure with their words and/or actions and quickly ask Him to forgive them. The important fact of true repentance is not to keep repeating the same error throughout the rest of our lives. This is why the psalmist is crying to God . Gossip is lying and the gossiper and hearer are being deceitful about their sin and sin nature. This not only hinders the gossiper and the hearer's prayers but it causes sin to dwell in the Church, which is the Body of Christ. Gossip is like and idol. An idol is something people have or do that makes them feel empowered by. If I speak badly of someone else, it makes me feel better about myself. So here, gossipers are also hypocrites. The snowball effect of all sin just increases the more as we through pride refuse to call sin sin and repent. As Christians, might we all WAKE-UP and hear the plea of God to His children, fall to our knees in humility and pray for forgiveness as we confess our "acceptable sins" to God who is the only wise and just judge of every thought and intent of our hearts. If you are reading this blog, might I be the first to ask God's forgiveness for myself and on behalf of all Christians as my brothers ans sisters, Lord for us as we know not what we do. Deliver us all from lying lips and deceitful tongues, and begin by bridling my tongue. There is a "deadline" or "Redline" that we could cross and God deliver us over to reap what we sow. Romans 1:28-32 (NKJV)
28 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a debased mind, to do those things which are not fitting;
29 being filled with all unrighteousness, sexual immorality, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, evil-mindedness; they are whisperers,
30 backbiters, haters of God, violent, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents,
31 undiscerning, untrustworthy, unloving, unforgiving, unmerciful;
32 who, knowing the righteous judgment of God, that those who practice such things are deserving of death, not only do the same but also approve of those who practice them.
If you are a Pastor, want you search out every crumb of Levin from your house and encourage other Pastors to do the same and if you are a layperson in the church, won't you speak to your Pastor about what you may be hearing in the church, even if the man is you? Jesus Christ needs a body of people who are by their choice, committed, continuously to be made Holy by Jesus through obedience to His Word. The one Word, which we must live to be best identify us as Christians is LOVE.
1 Corinthians 13:4-7 (AMP)
4 Love endures long and is patient and kind; love never is envious nor boils over with jealousy, is not boastful or vainglorious, does not display itself haughtily.
5 It is not conceited (arrogant and inflated with pride); it is not rude (unmannerly) and does not act unbecomingly. Love (God's love in us) does not insist on its own rights or its own way, for it is not self-seeking; it is not touchy or fretful or resentful; it takes no account of the evil done to it [it pays no attention to a suffered wrong].
6 It does not rejoice at injustice and unrighteousness, but rejoices when right and truth prevail.
7 Love bears up under anything and everything that comes, is ever ready to believe the best of every person, its hopes are fadeless under all circumstances, and it endures everything [without weakening].
Without being first reconciled in Christ's Love, none will be reconciled to Christ.
May God Bless You All:
Pastor Tommy
