Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Condemning Words

So it's 3 am and I am in the glider rocking our 8 month old daughter who is not wanting to be put down tonight. I haven't blogged in a while and after a really good discussion in our journey group I feel it is about time for some more of my thoughts.

We talked about words this week, and the power they can have. Ephesians 4:29 gives us clear direction for what our mouths are to be used for. Building each other up. I am not sure about you all but at the end of my days the # of conversations that built either me or someone else up are the minority. Let me put this plug in right now, conversation that is building someone up is not always a happy conversation. Sometimes, the most important thing we need to hear is far removed from what we want to hear.

Now to the meat of my thoughts. We got to talking about how easy it is to pick people apart, for whatever reason. Maybe your sitting at dinner with friends and a less fortunate person comes in; how easy is it to say "don't know what he's doing here?", or maybe your in class and that non traditional student asks the 400th question the have had today. Whatever the situation, we all tend to pick people apart.

Now let's talk about John 8. Jesus was talking with the group gathered around him and the pharisee's brought a woman in who was caught in the act of adultery. Basically, look at her; what do you have to say about her? Here you are talking about us, but what about her? We all know the story, Jesus says he who is without sin cast the first stone.

Now, Jesus also says if you lust after another in your heart you have already committed adultery. When we pick people apart whether out loud or in our heads we are simply putting them in front of Jesus and saying, "look this person does this, or doesn't do this" or whatever it maybe. We are basically putting them in front of Jesus saying "Condemn Them!". It is so easy to take the people we should be loving and putting the on front of our savior.

One other thought, it's easy to say well, I didn't say anything I just laughed. But that is one in the same. In Joshua 7 we see that Achan was the one who took from God, yet his whole family was stoned. Knowing and letting it happen are just as bad as doing it.

I write all that to challenge mainly myself, but anyone else who happens to read this, to be extremely aware of their words and thoughts. Being a parent I struggle with the weight that me and my wife will likely be the first Jesus either of our girls see. Same goes for the person we run into at the gas station. We may be the only Jesus they see.


- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

1 comment:

  1. Hayes,
    These words should really make people think about who we see day to day. Working in a public place I think about the people I see there and ask myself what if I am the only Jesus they say that day? Am I displaying myself in such a way that they know I am a Christian? Working in public also challenges me to be a better person. Really enjoy reading your blog! God bless you, Elizabeth & the girls!

    ReplyDelete