Sin. YHUCK! I do not want to be associated with that. I do my best to stay away from sin.
By the power of the Holy Spirit, through the completed work my Messiah Yeshua, I have been freed from the power of sin. I have given up sexual immorality, drunkardness and drug addiction, idolatry, hatred, lasciviousness, many others.
I allow myself to walk so tall because all of theseBIG sins are gone. Who cares about the little ones?
RIGHT?? Anyone else struggle with this? All the main
sins that we hear about all the time are now gone, so
I am good to go. I catch myself feeling like this all the
time, but what I am noticing, is that it is not all good.
I AM STILL A SINNER. Despite how good I want to make
myself look. God's word tells us that if we say there is no sin in us, we are a liar. Which is a sin in itself....right?
One sin that I believe we as Christians tend to overlook, (or atleast I know I do) is a sneaky one. One that we are not really aware of. Before I go on, can you guess what it is???
Lying? NO
Stealing? NO
Cheating? NO
What then??
Gossiping? OH YEAH!!!!!
It seems like everyone does it, no matter where I go. It's like a trap. I cannot escape it. Like I said, sneaky lil' guy for sure.
the Holy Spirit convicts me of it.
"That was not gossip, I was just
talking about what I heard" "They
wouldn't care that I said that" "I
was just letting them know how she
is doing"
Excuses, Excuses, Excuses!!! They all STINK! Because they are wrong, I am failing to take accountability which is preventing me from moving on from that sin.
BUT I HAVE TO ASK.....
WHAT COUNTS AS GOSSIP???
GOSSIP:
MERRIAM-WEBSTER DEFINITION
****In the Bible:SLANDER: Proverbs 10:18 He that hideth hatred with lying lips, and he that uttereth a slander is a fool. slander: defaming, evil report, infamyTALEBEARER: Proverbs 11:13 A talebearer revealeth secrets: but he that is of a faithful spirit concealeth a matter. Proverbs 18:8 The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down the innermost parts of the belly.
talebearer: a scandal monger (as traveling about):-slander, carry tales
WHISPERINGS: 1 Corinthians 12:20 For I fear when I come, I shall not find you such as I would, and that I shall find unto you such as ye would not: lest there be debates, envying, wraths, strifes, backbittings, whisperings, swellings, tumults: whisperings: (a whisper; by implication a slander): whispering, that is secret detraction
I know usually when I talk about someone it is usually something that I did not agree with. Like tonight, a girl got brought up. As they others were talking about her, I did not say anything about gossiping (which I should have) or ignore them and keep my mouth shut. NOOO, I had to join in on the conversation. "That girl is such a liar; she lies about everything" UHG, I know better than that! Why do I continue to do this? Why is it so hard? Is it just that I want to feel a part of the conversation? Are there ill motives? What is it?
Honestly, I may never have those answers. One thing I can be sure of, is that God searched my heart. He knows where I am, what I fell, what my intentions are, WHEN I DON'T! He can help me understand, but I have to seek Him and seek answers. Just like I have with my pride, my fear, my anxiety, etc.
The TRUTH on the matter, straight from the mouth of the Father......Ephesians 4:29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building other up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. *So if that girl was there, and I mentioned her lying, with the intention to help her see and change
would have been acceptable. (Matthew 18:15 If your brother or sister sins, go and point out
their fault, just between the two of you, If they listen to you, you have won them over.
My words should EDIFY and BUILD people up. It is as simple as that. And of course, glorify our Father in Heaven. If they are not doing those three things, I should not be saying them.
We have to remember that a time will come when we will be held accountable for what we say.
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