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Matt. 7:3-5 - Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? 4 "Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? 5 "You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye. NASU
Do we have any blind spots? Some Christians try to cover up their gossiping by saying, "We need to pray for so and so. I just heard this about them." How sad is that? When we are tempted to share what we believe is wrong with someone else this should be a good reminder to "take the speck out of our own eye". When we are not willing to investigate our own life this guarantees that specks will find their way into our life. The Bible tells us on numerous occasions there was only one person who lived perfectly and His name is Jesus of Nazareth. If anyone possessed perfect eye sight to see the flaws in us it would be Him. Yet, He would not participate in spreading gossip about us. He would come to us directly and point out the errors in our life and help us correct them. He would encourage us to do better. To one He even said, "Go and sin no more."
Would it not be better to follow the advice of Jesus and focus on the areas of our own life and correct them? For this is what He meant when He said, "take the speck out of your eye,…".
Maybe you could stop the one gossiping by asking them "Would you be saying these things if Jesus were standing here?" What good can come from pointing out the flaws of others to someone beside the person who has the flaw?
The best thing we can do is realize everyone has some type of speck in their eye and this includes us. The pattern of Jesus would be to extend Grace to that person and not gossip about them. But hey the call is yours. You have free-will. You can extend Grace or gossip the choice is yours. This might be a good time to ask yourself this question, "What would Jesus do?" or "What speck is in my eye?" Think About This: The best way to escape evil is to pursue good. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Colossians 4:6 - "Let your speech always be with grace, as though seasoned with salt, so that you will know how you should respond to each person." NASU
James spoke about the tongue quite a bit. Let me share some of his wisdom about the tongue and our speech: James 1:26 - If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. James is saying we have to learn how to control our tongues. How many times have we said something and we wish we hadn't said it? If only we had controlled our tongue. People have been sued for "defamation of character". What is that? That is where you allow your tongue to say things about someone that aren't true and they take you to court and sue you and successfully prove their case (defamation of character can be written as well as spoken). God even tells us in the 10 Commandments that we are not to use our tongues for the wrong reasons when it is spelled out for us in Exodus 20:16 - "You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor." In other words, don't use your tongue for evil.
James 3:7-10 - For every species of beasts and birds, of reptiles and creatures of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by the human race. 8 But no one can tame the tongue; it is a restless evil and full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the likeness of God; 10 from the same mouth come both blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be this way. When I think about what James has said about the tongue I find it amazing. Every animal known to man can be tamed, BUT the human tongue can't be tamed. How many fights between parents, children and spouses have been started with the wrong words? If we could put some of those words back in our mouths, but we all know once they are out the damage has been done. One spark can start a huge forest fire. How many times have we heard "think before you speak"? Years ago in one of my counseling classes the "old cliché" was our topic of discussion. I am sure you have heard it. It is the one that goes like this "sticks and stones may break my bones but your names will never hurt me." Yeah, who believes that today? No one! Name calling is very hurtful. It is definitely not what the tongue was intended to be used for. You know I guess my mother was right, if you don't have something nice to say about someone you should remain quiet. I believe our Lord expects us also to refrain from speaking derogatory about politicians. Paul said it this way "Let your speech always be with grace…" When your speech is not seasoned with grace it makes your witness for Jesus look bad. In fact, it makes you look like a hypocrite. So whether you want to do it my mother's way and not say anything bad about a person or the Apostle Paul's way by speaking but your words are to be gracefully spoken. If you choose to speak let your words be like salt and by that I mean when your food is seasoned correctly with salt it adds flavor to the meal. Christians should be adding flavor to this world. Jesus did say we are the salt of the earth, did He not? Think About These: Wisdom knows when to speak your mind and when to mind your speech. It is too bad that more people are thoughtless than speechless. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Gen. 37:11- His brothers were jealous of him,… NASU
Acts 7:9-10 - "The patriarchs became jealous of Joseph and sold him into Egypt. Yet God was with him, 10 and rescued him from all his afflictions, and granted him favor and wisdom in the sight of Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and he made him governor over Egypt and all his household. NASU
The Hebrew word for "jealousy" is also translated in other passages of scripture as "envy or envious". As it is in the book of Proverbs 23:17 - Do not let your heart envy sinners, but live in the fear of the LORD always. Joseph's brothers were jealous of him according to Genesis 37. A few thousand years later when Stephen in Acts 7 is repeating the events of what happened in Joseph's life he likewise said it was because of the patriarch's (aka - Joseph's brothers) "jealousy".
This is the perfect case if you want to see why parents should never favor one child over another. Favoritism will only cause trouble for the favored one. Joseph was in reality having a target painted on his back because of his father's favoritism of Joseph. The second thing to happen to Joseph was God gave him dreams. These dreams will become a curse for Joseph. The dream of the 11 stars (his brothers), the moon (his mother), and the sun (his father) are all going to bow down to him according to his dream and this was just too much for the brothers to be able to handle. If God chooses to use you in a special way don't expect everyone to be happy with God decision. God chose Joseph and his brothers wanted him dead. So the moment they saw him coming they immediately began to plot his murder (Gen. 37:18f).
It will do us well to remember God was watching over Joseph and in the end blessed Joseph. Oh yeah, incase you're new to reading the Bible Joseph's 11 brothers did bow to him. Prophecy Fulfilled! WOW! God does know the future. My encouragement today is simply be in control of your mind and if someone gets ahead of you in life that is okay. If God has decided to use someone else instead of you to accomplish His will in a certain area that is okay. It is God's world not ours. It is God's vineyard and if He wants you to work the north 40 acres and me the south 20 acres it is fine. We are to do the best we can wherever God plants us. As Christians, we do not have the time to be jealous of someone. We are too busy allowing the Holy Spirit to guide our lives through this world. Here are some great instructions from the Holy Spirit: 1 Corin. 13:4 - Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous… I also thought I would share with you this verse from the Message translation: Love never gives up. Love cares more for others than for self. Love doesn't want what it doesn't have. Love doesn't strut, Doesn't have a swelled head, (from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language © 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.) Think About These: Sin deceives, then defiles, then deadens. A good example has twice the value of good advice. It is the sin we try to excuse that finally gets us down. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt.27:46-47 - About the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "ELI, ELI, LAMA SABACHTHANI?" that is, "MY GOD, MY GOD, WHY HAVE YOU FORSAKEN ME?" NASU
This coming Sunday is Resurrection Sunday what the world commonly calls Easter. You will probably hear a few sermons about how God turned His back on Jesus and abandoned Him on the cross. I want you to know I don't believe that theory. So I am publishing this Pump Up to share with you my belief about what Jesus was really saying on the cross. Please accept my apology for the length of this Pump Up.
God speaks to Joshua as the leader of the Israelites. He tells Joshua, "No man will be able to stand before you all the days of your life. Just as I have been with Moses, I will be with you; I will not fail you or forsake you." Joshua 1:5 God told Jacob and Solomon He would be with them and that He would not forsake them.
"THE LORD IS MY HELPER, I WILL NOT BE AFRAID. WHAT WILL MAN DO TO ME?" Heb 13:5-6 Christians have the same promise made to them about God and the promise that He will NOT Ever Desert or Forsake us.
Here is my belief about what Jesus was saying on the cross. First, this is an Old Test. Quote, one must return to Psalm 22 where this quote originated and study the context of how it was used there. Once you do this I believe the answer becomes very clear. Psalm 22 is a Messianic Psalm. This means it applies to the Messiah or Jesus. Jesus is hanging on the cross when He speaks these words. The only scriptures they had at this time were the OT scriptures. The OT was not divided into chapters and verses. Therefore, Jesus couldn't say turn to Psalm 22 and you will find the answer as to what is happening to Me. The first entire Bible in which chapter and verse divisions were used was Robert Stephanus' edition of the Latin Vulgate (A.D. 1555). When Jesus quotes the first words: "My God, My God, Why Have You Forsaken Me?" He was telling His disciples to read the Psalm that begins with those words. When you read that Psalm the truth will be revealed: Ps 22:3-5 Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel. In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them. To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed. Ps 22:23-24 You who fear the LORD, praise Him; All you descendants of Jacob, glorify Him, And stand in awe of Him, all you descendants of Israel. For He has not despised nor abhorred the affliction of the afflicted; Nor has He hidden His face from him; But when he cried to Him for help, He heard. NASU In verses 3-5 the Psalmist is saying, God is holy, and the Israelite fathers trusted in God and were delivered. In verses 23-24 he is saying God has not hidden His face from this person who is suffering. In fact, this person cries out for help and God heard His cry. This Psalm is considered a Messianic one which means it is about the Messiah and I would agree. Therefore, Jesus is NOT saying God has forsaken Him, but the exact opposite. God had heard His cry for help and helped Him.
You and I may go through times when we feel like God has forsaken us, but our feelings are wrong as they have been before. God doesn't forsake us. God keeps His word and helps His children. Jesus tells us very clearly He is not alone during His crucifixion. He informs His disciples they will be scattered or in other words they are going to run and leave Jesus all alone, but He says I am not alone. John 16:31-32 - Jesus answered them, "Do you now believe? Behold, an hour is coming, and has already come, for you to be scattered, each to his own home, and to leave Me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." My dear brothers and sisters in Christ if there is anything I am sure of it is this: God doesn't forsake His children. Think About This: The promises of God are certain, but they don't always mature in 90 days. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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