Heard any juicy morsels lately?

It's time for confession! As hard as it is to do,
I must admit to one ongoing weakness in my
character that I have struggled with for all of
my life, and which I believe I have made some
measurable progress with over the last few years.
That problem is negative speaking about another
person, which could and often does involve
GOSSIP!
I've asked God to give me a kinder, gentler spirit,
one which accepts every one of my fellow man,
but some people just make it hard to like them,
let alone love them as God's Word teaches us!
Heard any "good stuff" lately?
Proverbs chapter 18, verse 8 says, "The words of
a talebearer are like tasty trifles......." Do you
enjoy getting "the latest" on another person?
Especially if it's in a negative vein?
Are you often anxious to pass along what you
just heard? With a bit of embellishment, of course.
The issue is not just a matter of liking or not liking
a certain person or people, but our sinful human
nature seems to delight in another's plight.
Get my drift?
Are you spending an appreciable amount of time
on the phone daily to "catch up on the latest"?
Are you eager to see certain other people to get
their "news report" on mutual acquaintances?
Do you relish being the one who reports on
what you've heard or think you've heard, etc.?
How often do you add your commentary to
what someone has told you about another, making
it seem like "gospel", when it often is just lies
masking as news or truth?
Are you a talebearer?
Do you eagerly get the latest on certain persons
or a certain person so that you can take joy at
their problems or situation?
How many people do you not like, or dislike,
or even "hate"? Have you used that term when
speaking about another person? Why?
Verse 21 of our chapter says, "Death and life are
in the power of the tongue.....". Turn to the
New Testament book of James, chapter 3, please,
and read the first twelve verses. WOW!
Friend, let me caution you about a few things:
l. Gossip can cause you to have a hard heart.
2. Gossip can bring another person to ruin.
3. Gossip destroys friendships.
4. Gossip will interfere with God's workings.
5. Gossip will separate you from the Savior.
6. Gossip will limit who your friends are.
7. Gossip will cause you to be "branded".
8. Gossip can keep a group or church from
succeeding in its mission.
9. Gossip limits the positive efforts you need
to make on ensuring your salvation.
10. Gossip may ultimately keep you from
getting to Heaven!
STRONG WORDS, I know, but my concern is that
people of God, especially, allow the Holy Spirit
to control their tongues (hearts and minds first),
in order to preserve their eternal rewards!!
PRAY, and ask God to help you to inventory
your attitudes and actions, and help you to be
positive in your speech, making you an "uplifter"
rather than a "destroyer" of persons.

WHAT KIND OF AN EXAMPLE AM I?

In one of his letters to Timothy, the Apostle Paul
encouraged his "son in the Lord" to "be an example
to the believers in word, in conduct, in love, in
spirit, in faith, in purity." (I Timothy 4:12)
Writing of himself in other places, Paul exhorted,
"...join in following my example, and note those
who so walk, as you have us for a pattern."
(Philippians 3:17)
An even stronger imploring is found in First
Corinthians 4:16, where we read (in the New King
James Version), "....I urge you, imitate me."
POWERFUL, YET INTIMIDATING WORDS!
Some would think that the Apostle was being
arrogant or presumptious, but those who know
him from his other writings are easily convinced
that he knew what his position in Jesus afforded
him, and he was confident in his "spiritual skin".
DO YOU AND I DARE TO MAKE SUCH STATEMENTS?
Who is "following" you? For whom are you a "pattern"
to copy? Do you want other Christians to be like you?
HEAVY, HEY?
Seriously, your daily walk and your "Sunday talk" are
being watched by others, from your children to your
students, to those who share worship with you, and
into the streets and workplace and shops.
Some years ago I experienced embarrassment when
a local pastor that I knew of, but didn't know on a
personal basis, argued rather loudly with an employee
in a local hardware store about a lawnmower's price.
I was attending another church in that same town,
but shared corporate shame by his actions.
We need to ask ourselves what kind of Christians
our world perceives us as. Our lives bespeak of
our Saviour and Lord. WHAT DO PEOPLE THINK
OF HIM AS THEY WITNESS OUR LIVES?
Are you attentive in church?
Do you participate in services?
Is your "gift" to the Lord in the offering plate?
Are others "moved" by your devotion?
Is your church better because of you?
Will children remember your dedication?
Do your neighbors know where you go Sundays?
Do they know "why"?
Do your fellow-employees know that you're
"one of His"? How?
Does your speech honor your Lord?
IS YOUR LIFE & LIFESTYLE WORTH IMITATING?
First Corinthians 11:1 gives us another of the
statements of Paul, perhaps an even stronger one
than those previously quoted: "Imitate me, just
as I also imitate Christ."
Of course, we wouldn't want anyone to copy our
"non-Christian" behaviour or thoughts, but it
would be a blessing to know that others desire
to be "like Jesus", and "like me".
Wouldn't it be great to hear others say that they
want to be like you and me because we emulate
the Lord Jesus? What a glorious statement of
our life's example to hear such a declaration in
Heaven, namely that we represented our Saviour
well to others!!
In Paul's treatise to Titus he encouraged him to
"in all, show yourself to be a pattern of good works,
in doctrine, integrity, reverence, incorruptibility,
(and) sound speech."
Remember, you are a walking, talking BILLBOARD
FOR JESUS! Advertise well, my friend.
I'm praying for you.