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Colossians 4:6 - Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned, as it were, with salt, so that you may know how you should respond to each person. NASB
Eph 4:29 - Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers. NKJV
The Bible tells us our speech should not be used to gossip about someone, nor should we use our mouths to slander another person. As my mother taught me and I am sure many of my readers were taught the same thing: "If you don't have something good to say about that person then say nothing at all." It is better to say nothing at all then to sin by gossiping or slandering the person.
Your character is revealed by how you speak. Jesus explicitly states that what you are saying is coming from what is in your heart. Is your speech used to build someone up or edify them? Or is your speech used to defame someone's character? I have had people ask me where in the Bible it says cussing or using profanity is wrong. I generally would use Eph. 4:29 used above as a reference for why people should not use profanity. Although, Jesus does say, "For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned." My question would be is your profanity justifying you or condemning you?
1 Pet 2:21-23 - For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps, 22 WHO COMMITTED NO SIN, NOR WAS ANY DECEIT FOUND IN HIS MOUTH; 23 and while being reviled, He did not revile in return; while suffering, He uttered no threats, but kept entrusting Himself to Him who judges righteously;… NASU Jesus took the high road. He didn't curse at them. He didn't call them names or threaten them. He simply prayed Father forgive them and yield up His spirit.
Michael didn't get into a word battle with the devil. He dismissed the devil with "The Lord Rebuke you." If someone is trying to get you into a word battle, do yourself a favor and take the "high road". Simply say "The Lord Rebuke you" and walk away. Think About These: Many a good idea has been smothered to death by words. Actions speak louder than words and are just as apt to be misinterpreted. Superior to a kind thought is a kind word; better than both is a kind deed. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word
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Matt 6:19-21 -"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal; for where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." NASU
People invested a lot of money in clothing in Jesus' day as they do today. What type of clothing articles do you have the most of in your closet? Some people have a huge collection of ball caps, tennis shoes or some other article of clothing. Guinness even has a world record for largest collection of tennis shoes. Your clothing according to Jesus is in constant danger. There are moths, thieves and let us not forget fires. Imagine if your house catches fire and all your clothing articles get destroyed by fire. The second place He informs us is a much better place to store your treasures and that is in Heaven. Everything that can destroy your valuables here on earth can't touch them if they are in Heaven.
So how does a person store their treasures in Heaven? The apostle Paul and James state it like this: Acts 20:35 - "In everything I showed you that by working hard in this manner you must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that He Himself said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'" Tit 3:14 - Our people must also learn to engage in good deeds to meet pressing needs, so that they will not be unfruitful. Jas 1:27 - Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world. One simple question: Who are you helping at this time as you journey towards heaven? While Jesus was on the face of the earth this was recorded about Him - Acts 10:38 - "You know of Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed Him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with Him. He went about doing good. Now I know we can’t heal people like He did but there are still ways we can do good. Look what the Hebrew writers says: Heb 13:16 - And do not neglect doing good and sharing, for with such sacrifices God is pleased. I am not sure if you have thought about this verse lately but it actually tells us how we can please God. By not neglecting those who have legitimate needs and share with them. Think About These: Help people even when you know they can't return the favor. Strong people don't put others down…They lift them up. Giving isn't just about making a donation. It's about making a difference. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Matt. 21:28-31 - "But what do you think? A man had two sons, and he came to the first and said, ' Son, go work today in the vineyard.' "And he answered, 'I will not'; but afterward he regretted it and went. "The man came to the second and said the same thing; and he answered, 'I will, sir'; but he did not go. "Which of the two did the will of his father?" They said, "The first." NASU
My dad would have given me that look and said, "What did you say?" It is right then and there that I would have had this thought "You better really think about your next answer because it could mean life or death." That is when I would have said, "Just kidding Dad! Sure I am going to the vineyard. I love the vineyard." He would have said, "Yeah that is what I thought you said."
In other words, he didn't walk the walk. He talked the talk but didn't back it up with the correct actions. This is why the people of the world say the church is filled with hypocrites. Christians say one thing and then they do another. Exactly like the second son said he would go work in the vineyard and didn't. I am sure we all want to hear "Yes, I will go or Yes, I will do it". I don't think any of us would want to hear "I am not going to do it." If this is in a work situation it is different. They are getting paid to do what the boss has asked them to do, but in the family the dynamics are different. You do what you're asked because you are a part of the family.
They were rebellious and would not listen at first but then they had a change of heart and regretted their actions. They changed their minds which brought about a change in their behavior. Therefore, they ended up in the vineyard picking grapes. However, the Israelites represented the second son. They said they would go and never completed the task. They never entered the vineyard. It is imperative that we remember this parable and that we remember what God has asked us to do. There is no way we want to be the ones who say we will go and do what the Father wants and then never do it. Jesus very clearly asks which one did the will of the father and they all said correctly the first son. We have all sinned and fallen short of God's glory (Rom.3:23) and like the tax-collectors and prostitutes we have come to regret our sinful life. We are now working in the vineyard and hopefully you are happy to be apart of the family of God. Think About These: A good way to forget your troubles is to help others out of theirs. It is better to keep a friend from falling than to help him up after he falls. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word Gen. 1:1 - "In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth."
If you take a basic Theology class one of the characteristics of God that you will learn is that it is in His nature to create. So His nature hasn't changed because it can't change. Therefore, I believe God is still creating things.
In other words, the world or universe has been made "from nothing or ex nihilo".
I am sure we can agree that God has really done an amazing job of creating things "from nothing". Imagine what He could create using us? I always find it very interesting when talking to certain Christians when they share their life stories. Some people just turned their lives over to God early on and said, Here I am Lord use me. This reminds me of Isaiah who said it this way: Isa 6:8 - Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, "Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?" Then I said, "Here am I. Send me!" Isaiah was saying go ahead Lord and use me. Take this man and create something out of him for Your service. What could God create with you today, this week, this month or this year? When David prayed he asked God to create a clean heart within him. Are you in need of God creating a clean heart within you? Ps 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, God says in Isaiah and the book of Revelation that He is going to create a new heavens and a new earth. I hope that all who read my Pump Ups will get to enter into the new heavens and earth that God is going to create in the future. Isa 65:17-18 - For behold, I create new heavens and a new earth; And the former things will not be remembered or come to mind. 18 "But be glad and rejoice forever in what I create;… Think About These: Faith builds a bridge from this world to the next. Heaven is a state of thankfulness for having received what we didn't deserve, and for not receiving what we did deserve. Stay Pumped, Gary A. Serago Minister of God's Word |
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