Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Bible Versus Cell Phone

Have you ever wondered what would happen if you treated your Bible like you do your cell phone? What if you carried it around in your purse or pocket? What if you flipped through it several times a day? What if you turned back to get it if you forgot it? What if you used it to receive messages from text? What if you gave it to your children or grandchildren as a gift? What if you used it when you traveled? What if you used it in case of an emergency? What if you carried it with you to work, table, bed and even the bathroom? Is this something to make you stop and think about the two? One more thing, unlike your cell phone, you don't have to worry about your Bible being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill. The Author has been texting you for a long time. Have you read your text messages from God lately? Actually, there are enough messages to fill 66 books. There is information on many topics, a few history lessons, a few books of poetry, some laws and many, many promises. Romans 10:13 says, "For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved." (Copied from Crossties, a newsletter of Woolsey Baptist Church) Thought for Today: God's Word will not return to Him void. Try it!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Part II - When to Keep Your Mouth Shut

As promised, I wanted to share some more scriptures about when we should keep our mouth shut. We don't realize how words can hurt, but the Bible instructs in those areas. We should take heed to the Word of God which is instructive and for our good. We should keep our mouth shut:

11. When you are tempted to tell an outright lie (Proverbs 4:24)
12. If your words will damage someone's reputation (Proverbs 16:27)
13. If your words will destroy a friendship (Proverbs 16:28)
14. When you are feeling critical (James 3:9)
15. If you can't speak without yelling (Proverbs 25:28)
16. When it is time to listen (Proverbs 13:1)
17. If you may have to eat your words later (Proverbs 18:21)
18. If you've already said it more than one time (Proverbs 19:13)
19. If you are tempted to flatter wicked person (Proverbs 19:13)

Our focus in this life should always be on Christ and what would He do. We are often guided by our own motives and sometimes those motives are for bad and not for good. Let's look at a couple of these scriptures.

Proverbs 16:27 (No. 12) says: "A scoundrel plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire." When we intentionally speak words that will damage a person's reputation, we are a scoundrel. A scoundrel is a mean, immoral evil person that plots evil. Every word he (she) speaks is meant to cause serious infliction on the person of whom he (she) is speaking. A scoundrel is an immoral person and his speech is inflammatory and destructive. (James 3:6)

We should always speak words that are encouraging and kind. The bible says, "pleasant words are a honeycomb, sweet to the sould and healing to the bones." (Proverbs 16:24)

Proverbs 16:28 states that "a perverse man stirs up dissension, and a gossip separates close friends. Often times we repeat things we hear and spread them like a wild fire, but again words should encourage and be kind. When we spread lies about a person, not only does it damage their reputation, but often it destroys friendship. Gossip is contagious and is like a disease. The bible says that a friend is closer than a brother. A good friend is hard to find, so guard your tongue when you start spreading gossip. Ask yourself what is the purpose of your words; who will they hurt, and how do you benefit from them.

It is just as easy to say something nice as it is to say something ugly about a person. Words can cause life or death. Chose life. Proverbs are good for attaining wisdom and discipline; for understanding words of insight; doing what is right and just and fair. (Proverbs 1:2)

Thought for Today: Jesus is our standard and God's word imparts wisdom.

Sunday, March 6, 2011

When to Keep Your Mouth Shut

Often times in my life, I have failed to abide by this title. I wanted to speak when I should have just been quiet. That's the nice way of putting it, but the scriptures direct us to when we should just keep our mouths shut. Wisdom comes from listening rather than speaking.

For your consideration, I am sharing the following scriptures. Take some time and look at each one. It is a bible study in itself.

Don't open your mouth:

1. In the heat of anger (Proverbs 14:17)

2. When you don't have all the facts (Proverbs 18:13)

3. When you haven't verified the story (Deuteronomy 17:6)

4. If your words will offend a weaker brother (1 Corinthians 8:11)

5. If your words will be a poor reflection on the Lord or your family or your friend (1 Peter 2:21:23)

6. When you are tempted to a make light of Holy things (Eccelesiastes 5:2)

7. When you are tempted to joke about sin. (Proverbs 14:9)

8. If you would be ashamed of your words later (Proverbs 8:8)

9. If you words would convey a wrong impression (Proverbs 17:27)

The book of Proverbs is a very powerful book in the Bible and the proverbs are good for teaching and learning, especially your own children. Perhaps you are teacher or a Sunday school teacher, the above can be a useful source of training for your class.

Stay tuned, I will share No. 11-20 later because there are more instances when you should keep your mouth shut.

Let's just look at a couple of these and then on your own time, look at the others with a bible commentary. If you are not a church goer or you don't attend Sunday School, or go to bible study, you might be interested in going to a Christian book store and get a bible commentary and dictionary to help you understand the Word of God better.

Proverbs 14:17 says, "a quick tempered man acts foolishly, but a good man will be satisfied from above." Both the quick tempered and those of wicked intent are fools; wise persons shun them so that they are not involved in their folly.

I tell you that a fool is not just a nuisance; he is a hazard to the soul. Folly is not just an unpleasantness; it is a jeopardy to life itself. Only the fool courts disaster by playing with folly.

Stay away from quick tempered people who act foolishly and do things without stopping to consider the consequences. He slams doors, throws whatever is handy, yells, curses, and insults, breaks furniture, and walks out in a rage. But if we had to choose, we could tolerate him more easily than the man of wicked intentions. Everyone hates this man for his cold-blooded treachery.

Proverbs 17:27 states "He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit." Here is example of when restraint in speech is a mark of wisdom. This cuts against the expectations we have. We usually look for the wise person to speak, not for him or her to listen. He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of calm spirit. Rash speech and quick temper betray a shallow character.

The book of Provers provides universal principles for living. Written mostly by King Solomon, with portions written by Agur and King Lemuel.

Wisdom is universal, not national. In all your understanding, get wisdom! May God continue to bless and keep you.

Thought for Today: The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom.