What's Been on Your Lips Lately?

Did you hear the latest about Bob? And did I tell you what Susie was doing? Can you believe it?

Some people call them juicy tidbits. Just enough to whet your apetite. I don't even know if they are still around, but years ago there were many soap operas on daytime television. People loved to tune in just to see what everyone was up to, and often it was up to no good.

My intent is not to get into the human psyche to determine why there seems to be an insatiable apetite for juicy stuff about people, but let's face it, there's something that draws us in to a good story. Sitting around the camp fire telling tall tales is one thing, but sitting around gossiping about real people is another.

The Word of God is cyrstal clear on this matter:

Therefore, laying aside all malice, all deceit, hypocrisy, envy, and all evil speaking, as newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby, if indeed you have tasted that the Lord is gracious. -1Pe 2:1-3

Has God been gracious to you? Be gracious to others. Has God acted towards you with good intentions? Act with good intention toward others. Has God been honest and up front with you? Be honest and up front with others. Has God been a person of integrity? Be a person of integrity. Envy and evil speaking are not characteristics of God, and neither should they be characteristic of us.

You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the LORD. 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him. You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD. - Lev 19:16-18

If you have a problem with your brother or sister in the Lord, take it to them. Do not bear grudges.

For the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers. And above all things have fervent love for one another, for "LOVE WILL COVER A MULTITUDE OF SINS." - 1Pe 4:7-8

I've been trying to be a lot more serious and watchful in my morning prayers, and funny thing, I'm finding the Holy Spirit speaking to me more and more about my obligation to have fervent love toward my brothers and sisters in Christ. Let's not let our hearts be hardened to the point that it takes a terminal disease for someone to receive our compassion.

Yours in Him,

Pastor B.