When Shame Reveals Misplaced Trust Placing our trust in someone who then abuses that trust often brings feelings of shame. We feel foolish for trusting an untrustworthy person. We feel shame over our poor decisions: we married the wrong person, got the wrong degree, or were friends with the wrong people. Some of us feel ashamed over our own sinful behavior. We can't even trust ourselves. Others are ashamed of their children's decisions. Shame exposes the fact that we trusted someone, or even ourselves, when we shouldn't have. But have you ever been ashamed of Christ? " If anyone is ashamed of me and my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, the Son of Man will be ashamed of them when he comes in his Father’s glory with the holy angels. " Mark 8:38 Shame exposes what we have trusted. If we are ashamed of Christ, it is because we are trusting the world more than we trust Him. Ashamed in an “Adulterous and Sinful Generation” Do we feel a sort of shame or discomfort when people talk about Christians as uneducated and stupid? Do we wish we could hide our faith a little so no one has to suspect that we belong to Him? Because we are not like the world we will experience people making fun of us. This should never make us feel shame. Jesus calls the generation He preached to " adulterous and sinful ." The adultery He is referring to is spiritual. The people say they are following God but it is not with their heart; it is only with their lips. Their sin and lack of love, was evidence of this. Certainly this description could be applied to our generation as well. How many of us claim Jesus as our Savior but lack the love for Him and others that we claim to have? God wants our hearts . When He doesn't live in our hearts, He becomes a " stumbling block ," something that offends or causes rejection, to those who don't believe. They could only see this uneducated man from the backwaters of Galilee, unmarried, itinerant, most likely illegitimate (or so they thought). He was " despised, " Scripture tells us. To them it was ridiculous to believe that He was the returning Messiah, because they were expecting a great political power. To believe in Him would be shamefully stupid they thought. Paul: Not Ashamed of the Gospel When we believe in Jesus, we are told we will never " be put to shame " (Romans 10:11). It means that those who trust in Him will never be disgraced or rejected at the final judgment. Jesus will never let us down, His promises are always true. Breaking free from shame is only possible through Jesus. A life that continually rejects repentance reveals a heart that is ashamed of the Gospel’s transforming power to change hearts and lives. Because if we truly believe in the message of salvation, we will not just talk about it; we will live it. Paul writes from prison in Philippians 1:20 and declares, " ...in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. " Paul is confident that he will not fail to lift up Christ above all. Whether he lives or dies, he will glorify Christ. Paul’s boldness wasn’t just talk—it stood firm against a world that ridiculed the Gospel as weak and foolish. And he is also not ashamed of the gospel of Christ (Romans 1:16) because it alone has the power of God to save the world. To the world the gospel seems like weakness (1 Corinthians 1:23). It looks like foolishness (1 Corinthians 1:18). When Paul went to Rome with the gospel he went to the center of power and wealth. Standing against him were philosophies, prejudice, and ancient religious practices. If Paul believed as the world did, he would have been ashamed. What does Paul actually mean by ashamed here? The Greek word he uses, epaischunomai , carries the idea of shrinking back in fear or disowning something because of disgrace. Paul was not ashamed because he knew the Gospel was true, powerful, and eternal, and no suffering could change that reality. The Gospel is utterly trustworthy, in fact we can trust the whole Bible . Paul could not possibly be ashamed of Someone he knew was the salvation of the world. Paul understood that he would never have to experience shame because the word of God would never fail. This same confidence in God’s Word is what Paul encourages in all who labor for Christ. In Paul's writings to Timothy, he pleads with Timothy to be a worker who is not ashamed (2 Timothy 2:15). Paul's encouragement is that Timothy will never give up his efforts to present the truth of Christ the very best way possible. Are we workers that are not ashamed? Have we given Christ our best effort or are we half-hearted in our attempts to serve Him? Once more in 2 Timothy 1:12 Paul, in the midst of suffering, explains he is not ashamed because " he knows whom he has believed. " Paul was suffering the abuse reserved for criminals, but he felt no shame because for him any price he paid was worth it to bring the message of Jesus to the world. Paul agreed with the Psalmist, " What can man do to me? " (Psalm 118:6). If we undergo suffering for Christ's sake, we too should never feel ashamed. Do you truly know whom you have believed? Paul’s courage is a model for us, but the earliest followers of Jesus also wrestled with shame and fear as we sometimes do, even after walking with Him for years. The Cross and the Failure of the Disciples The disciples were called to put their trust wholly in Christ. That trust led them to see Him crucified like a criminal. This was their King? But they discovered that Christ would never cause them shame. The world mocked Him. Rome crucified Him. Religious leaders rejected Him. Yet He endured the shame of the cross for them so that they would never have to experience separation from God. Even those who loved Jesus most struggled with shame. The disciples, especially Peter, had expressed shame in knowing Jesus when he lied about being His follower after Jesus' arrest. The shame Peter experienced fed his fears that if he had admitted being a disciple of Jesus, the same thing could happen to him. But Peter's shame was momentary. His heart belonged to Jesus, and as we see when Jesus looked at him after the third betrayal, Peter remembers everything that Jesus had predicted and weeps bitterly in repentance. This should teach us something. No matter how close we are to Jesus, we can sin. But just as Jesus prayed for Peter, He has also prayed for us (John 17:20-23). We can be forgiven and renewed. However, there is a shame that leads to repentance and there is a shame that rejects truth. One draws us toward Christ. The other pushes us away from Him. The choice to respond rightly to shame is ours today, just as it was for Peter and the first disciples. Ashamed of Christ or Follower: The Choice Before Us Jesus’ warning means that those who rejected His Word and His gift of salvation here will be rejected at the final judgment before God. Our choice is here and now. Will we believe, repent, and obey our Lord or will we choose to let the world rule us? The world will tell us to be ashamed of Christ. They will say He is a liar, an imposter, a nobody who said nice things like many others. They will tell you that He is not worthy to follow. But without Him we have no hope. Without Him we follow a path to destruction. Will you be ashamed of Him today or will you stand with Him?

When Worship Becomes Casual We say our God is holy, and in response to His holiness we are to be reverent. Have we forgotten reverence for God? We don't even use that word much anymore. I doubt many young church attendees even have an idea what it really means. To be reverent means to show great respect. There should be no greater respect than the respect for our Holy God. Jesus Himself had His prayers heard because of His reverence. "In the days of his flesh, Jesus offered up prayers and supplications, with loud cries and tears, to him who was able to save him from death, and he was heard because of his reverence." Hebrews 5:7 How We Show Respect for Earthly Authority Let's pretend for a moment that we had an opportunity to meet with a President we admired, or an A list Hollywood actor, or maybe a king or queen from another country. What would we do differently from a meeting with a classmate we hadn't seen in a long time? Approaching God with Holy Fear Most people would say they would put on their nicest clothes. They would listen to what the other person said when they spoke. We would most likely respectfully shake hands or possibly even a small bow toward that person. We probably wouldn't be in conversation with them while at the same time texting on our phone. We wouldn't lean over to chat or appear indifferent while they spoke. So if this is how we approach another person we respect, how should we approach God? 1 Peter 1:17 tells us we should approach God with reverent fear. Fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom according to Proverbs 9:10. "Since you call on a Father who judges each person's work impartially, live out your time as foreigners here in reverent fear." 1Peter 1:17 Remember though, nice clothes don't necessarily imply reverence. The heart is where our reverence should come from. We can look very respectful on the outside and be anything but that on the inside. Sometimes we are simply dressing for other people to be seen instead of our dress indicating our reverence for God. God sees us for who we really are. The Lord looks at the heart. How we dress is just an outward symbol of what hopefully is in our hearts (Matthew 15:8). A Father’s Loving Discipline and Our Response We have been told that Jesus is our friend, our brother, and God is our Father and that is absolutely true. But there was a time when respect, or in this case, reverence was expected between a child and a Father. When a Father spoke, a child was expected to listen. When a Father told a child to do something, they would for the most part try to do it immediately. They knew there were consequences for misbehavior because their Father loved them and wanted what was best for them. Hebrews 12:28-29 reminds us, "Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe, for our God is a consuming fire" Everyday Ways to Show Reverence for God How do we show God reverence in our daily lives? By treating Him as the Holy God He is. We are obedient, we listen, we take correction and learn from it. We read the Word, His Words, that He has left for us. We show gratitude. We love others because He loves us. We submit to others because we have reverence for Jesus. "Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ". Ephesians 5:21 We treat His creation with care and thoughtfulness. We dress our best, even if we have little, we make sure to be modest and clean. We respect His Holy Name as Jesus taught us. "Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name." Matthew 6:9 Reverence in Worship and Church Life When we walk into our local church for Sunday Services, are our thoughts immediately about God? Or is it so noisy that we are distracted away from Him? Are our eyes drawn to the girl two rows down in the immodest clothing or the handsome young newcomer or are we focused on worship? When we assemble in church or even in our homes for worship, how do we show reverence to God? Do we come in His house and chit chat with our neighbor about going to the store or what we heard happened in our community this week? Reverence, a holy respect, is better shown by not talking to others while the service is ongoing, praying, thinking about our blessings, and being open to receive His Word. Our voices should only be raised in praise to Jesus. Our heart should be prepared for worship. Learning from Quietness and Song When the Bible is read and the sermon delivered, we should pay attention and really listen to what is being said. Think about it. How does the reading apply to us? Is there anything surprising or something we don't really understand that perhaps we might dig deeper into later at home? Reverence is shown through joining in with singing. We praise our Father through song. He doesn't say we have to sing well but singing is expected. Many of us who sing in the shower or in the car alone won't even attempt to sing at church out of fear we won't sound good enough. God is patient as we grow in reverence. He welcomes every heart that seeks to honor Him. Recovering Reverence in a Casual Age I remember attending church many years ago. Service was in the afternoon and many people attended straight from a day at the lake wearing whatever they wore that day. It was a moment that led our pastor to lovingly guide us toward greater reverence. He gently reminded us that, just as we might dress thoughtfully for a special occasion, choosing clothing that reflects care and modesty for worship helps us honor the sacredness of the moment. His words encouraged us to think about how we prepare our hearts and appearance for God, not out of judgment, but as an invitation to deepen our connection with Him. Do we ever find ourselves giving more care to our appearance for social events than for worship? Recently I had the opportunity to visit the Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris. This beautiful church was literally full of people, some were attending services. To keep the crowd noises down the church measures the noise level and when it goes above a certain level a sound is played. It is a very calming but noticeable, Shhhh. One could immediately feel the calmness. The visitors would quiet and the church would return to its feeling of reverence. Perhaps in our zeal to make Jesus our buddy, as it were, we have forgotten that He is one with the Father and the Holy Spirit. We may have forgotten that we worship the Creator of the universe and the righteous Judge of all that lives. We are told in Leviticus 19:30, "You shall keep My Sabbaths and reverence My sanctuary: I am the Lord." And in Psalm 95:6 the Psalmist says, "Oh come, let us worship and bow down; Let us kneel before the Lord our Maker." In reverent worship, we join the disciples in their testimony: “ We beheld His glory , full of grace and truth. " (John 1:14). In 1 Corinthians 11:17-34 we see the seriousness of the Corinthians' lack of respect and reverence for the Lord's Supper or Communion. Paul goes into much detail explaining why this was so essential to their worship of God. He reminds us who we remember and why we do so in holy Communion. Bowing Our Hearts Before a Holy God When was the last time we knelt before God? When did we last bow down before our holy and righteous God? This is not to imply that we can't speak to God anywhere we are or that we must at all times bow or kneel or say the perfect prayer, but there is an expectation of God that our heart must be bowed before Him in reverence. In Proverbs 28:14, we are told that a happy man is always reverent but when our hearts are hard we fall into calamity. Each of us needs to check our hearts. Have we shown God the reverence and respect that is due Him? The next time we attend church services think about Him, worship Him, and let the cares of this life melt away as we adore our Savior. We can take comfort that when we draw near to Him in reverence, He draws near to us. Reverence restores our awe of who God is and reminds us that worship is holy ground.

Are You Nice? Have you ever met a really, really nice person? You know, someone who seems to always be thinking of others, someone who never loses their temper and always seems to be happy. That is a sure sign that they are a Christian, right? Wrong. Nice people aren't necessarily Christians. If your motivation is to love, and serve God, and others, you will know it by the fruit of the Spirit seen in your life. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law." Galatians 5:22-23 What's Your Motivation to be Nice? The more important question is, "What is the motivation of that person?" That is a question that requires discernment from God. We should look inward to see what motivates us to be "nice" people. Do we have self-control because we want to appear to have it all together? Or does our self-control happen because the Holy Spirit is acting on us to see that there is a better way? God should be in control , not us. Are we kind to people because we know if we are that we will benefit somehow from that kindness? Or are we kind because we want to show Jesus to them, no matter who they are? Is our joy based on the knowledge that people like to be around happy people so we will have more friends? Or does it come from an inner knowledge that Christ has redeemed us and loves us? Do we love only those who are able to love us back, who see what we do? Or do we love the unlovable ones, the people who treat us with disrespect, who don't see our worth? Are we faithful in public but in the quiet of our homes do we question and doubt and wonder if it's all real? Should a Christian be a nice person? Of course, absolutely. But it must be for the right reasons. Only through discernment can we know if the reasons are to build ourselves up or to build up the Kingdom of God. Because someone talks the talk doesn't mean their heart is in the right place. People use manipulation, guilt and sometimes outright lying to make themselves appear to be "fruitful" people. There is also a difference between our natural personality and spiritual transformation. Some people are naturally pleasant, reserved, or agreeable, while others struggle more openly with anger or impatience. God can and does use personality, but personality is not fruit. The fruit of the Spirit is not about how we are wired; it is about how we are changed. Discernment helps us recognize the difference between what comes easily to us by nature and what is produced in us by the Spirit through surrender, repentance, and obedience. Fruit Inspectors In Matthew 7:15-20 we are told to inspect fruit, don't just take it at face value. " Every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. " Sadly we can't always tell immediately. It takes fruit a while to produce. In the meantime, we may have questions. Discerning Truth Clearly not everyone shows their hand honestly. Many people pretend to be something they are not to get ahead or use others. Discernment comes from God. It requires knowledge and understanding of His word. In Ephesians 5:10-11 we are told to discern the things pleasing to God and discerning teachers is part of that. Paul says don't take part in the works of darkness, instead expose them. And in 1 John 4:1 we are told to " test the spirits " to see if they are of God. Why? Because there are many false prophets in the world. True Christian Fruit As Christians our fruit doesn't appear full grown and mature on day one. Our fruit must be nurtured, pruned, fertilized, and nourished to grow. We are nourished by the vine —Jesus. The fruit we produce is a work in progress. One thing is certain though, a true Christian is one who, slowly but surely, indeed does produce true fruit by God's grace. We might not have the quantity we want, or maybe the quality is a little lacking, but it will be there. What's your motivation? So let's be "nice", but make sure it comes from a place of humility and an eagerness to show the love of Christ to others. Make sure our fruit is real and not disguising something unpleasant on the inside. Bear Good Fruit to the Lord

Why Doesn't God Answer? Our Lord says that what we pray believing will happen (Mark 11:24). This is effectual prayer. In 1 John 5:14 John says that God hears our prayer when we ask " according to His will ". If that is true why doesn't God answer our prayers? Why does it seem that He is silent at times? Does God really hear all of our prayers? God doesn't promise that He will hear and answer every prayer we make. To hear our prayer there are some things required of us. In Psalm 66:18 the Psalmist tells us one thing that causes our prayers to go unheard, regarding iniquity. What does it mean to " regard iniquity "? Quite simply it refers to harboring known sin and not repenting or turning from it. So if you are doing something sinful on Saturday night, for example, and not turning away from it back to God, then Sunday, when you sit piously in the pew in church, the Lord will not hear you. Abide in Him Our Lord tells us in John 15:7 that " if you abide in Me " then what you ask from God will happen. To abide in Christ means to receive, trust and believe in the words of Jesus. In 1 John 3:22 he tells us we receive what we ask from God because we do what pleases God. Obedience and loving others is necessary for God to answer our prayers. So the reverse is also true. We will not receive what we ask for when we don't keep His commandments and when we don't do what is pleasing in God's sight. Obedience Requires Study Psalm 119:15-16 tells us, "I will meditate on Your precepts, And contemplate Your ways. I will delight myself in Your statutes; I will not forget Your word." To be obedient so our prayers will be heard requires us to "meditate" and "contemplate" God and His ways. This is not just a casual reading of a verse or two of scripture, this is focused and intense study, even memorization so that we will " not forget your word ". Effectual Prayer Requires Confessing Your Sin James 5:16 says that a righteous man is one who has confessed his sins. His prayer is an effectual prayer. His prayers are fervent, meaning full of feeling and passionate. The fervent prayer is not one that is just recited words or saying what sounds "holy". It is a prayer sent up with the intensity of the Holy Spirit. To quote A.W. Pink on this topic he says, "If we walk not in separation from the world, if we deny not self, strive not against sin, mortify not our lusts, but gratify our carnal nature, is there any wonder that our prayer-life is cold and formal and our petitions unanswered?" I am not suggesting legalism here, but simply acknowledging that Jesus's sacrifice on the Cross was not done so we could willfully continue sinning. Asking Amiss For God to hear us we must also be sure that we are praying the will of God and the reason behind the request is just. James 4:3 reminds us that we don't have answered prayers because we ask things that are not the will of God. He says we ask because we want to "spend it on your pleasures." This is not effectual prayer. We need to search our hearts to know, are we asking to make ourselves look more important or are we asking for God to be glorified in our request? Humble Requests - Not Demands Are we truly servants of the almighty God? Do we really pray as Jesus did in the garden " not My will, but Yours, be done. ” (Luke 22:43)? Are we submissive to God's will over our own? Many today it seems want to command God. Instead of demands we need to be sending up our " humble requests ". Elijah's prayer is a wonderful example of someone who prayed humbly. Paul tells us this in Philippians 4:6, "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;" Only The Desires of The Master Remember, just as Jesus came into the world in the " form of a servant " (Philippians 2:7) so we are to have a servant's heart . We serve because He served. Our heart should desire only that which the Master desires. Can we tell God that we have been a faithful servant as David did in Psalm 119: 22? When our conscience is clear and our souls have the witness of the Holy Spirit that we are asking something that is the will of God, then we can know that God hears us and will come to our aide with all of His strength and power. Length Isn't What Matters Is your prayer short and to the point? Don't be afraid that such a prayer won't be answered. Don't think that your prayer must be lengthy and full of words. Most prayers in the Bible are actually quite short. God hears us when we are His humble, obedient servants regardless of the length of our prayers. He hears these effectual prayers and responds according to His will and we are thankful for it. Effectual Prayer

God’s Blessings and Israel’s Inheritance Thank God for His many blessings. The Lord blesses us in spite of ourselves. In Deuteronomy 9:4-6, Moses told the people that they would inherit the promised land not because of their righteousness. He reminded them that they were a " stiff-necked people ", in other words, stubborn. Then why were they given this land, promised so long ago to Abraham? They were given it into their hands because of the wickedness of the nations that possessed it. God's judgment had fallen on those nations and they were to be given over to the Israelites. God wants our hearts above all, which leads to obedience. Just as Israel did not earn their inheritance, we do not earn ours. Every blessing we receive, especially salvation, comes not because we are righteous, but because God is merciful and faithful to His promises. What God Requires: Love and Obedience In Deuteronomy 10:12-13, Moses informed the people what God wanted of them. God wanted them to fear Him, love Him, be obedient to Him, serve Him with all their heart and soul and obey all the commandments that will be given to them. Why, for their own good. Abraham’s faith had already been blessed with a covenant relationship, and now his descendants were called to walk faithfully in that covenant through love and obedience. God does not change. The heart of worship is obedience. What He wanted in the Old Testament He wants in the New. As Jesus tells us in Mark 12:30-31, "And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. ’This is the first commandment. And the second, like it, is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these.”" God Wants our Hearts Simply put, God wants our hearts. All that we do for Him is for nothing if we do it without love for Him and others. If we truly love God, we will want to serve Him. The Holy Spirit that lives within us will guide us to do what He wants us to do. So if we serve the poor, attend church regularly, tithe our money, study the word, but we do it without loving God and others, we are doing it for ourselves only. Trials, Persecution, and the Way of the Cross Many of today's TV preachers act like God is there to serve us. They say if you become a Christian, God will bless you with finances, He will bless you with a happy life and success. How does Jesus describe those who follow Him? In Matthew 13:21, He describes those who stumble when " persecution and tribulation " arise. In Mark 8:34, Jesus tells us that we must take up our cross and follow Him . We are to be obedient to whatever end that takes us. I wonder how popular these preachers would be if they talked about what Jesus and Paul talked about? If their sermon titles were, " Expect Persecution " or " Tribulation Ahead ". James goes so far as to say in James 1:2-4 that we should " count it all joy " when we fall into trials. Why? Not because the trial brings joy, but the trial works on us to produce patience. Patience is a fruit of the Spirit. In Luke 9:23, Jesus says to deny yourself. What? Deny myself? How counter that is to today's culture that glorifies self. Our culture today says, "I am good enough" and "I am pretty, strong, smart, and on and on." Our Promised Hope in Christ Jesus has prepared a place for us. A glorious promised land. Not because of our righteousness but because of His, just as the Israelites received their inheritance not because of their righteousness. Jesus asks us for our love and to show that love to others. That love is shown through humble obedience. God wants our hearts to glorify Him. We don't love Jesus for what worldly things He can give us. We love and praise God because He has loved and blessed us in spite of our disobedience. We put Him first and we obey because, as He told the Israelites, it is for our own good!

A Picture of Death and Eternal Life: Born Into the Light Life and death: we often consider these to be opposite experiences, but consider this. As a baby, we lived for nine months in an environment completely disconnected from the world we inhabit today. We were quite comfortable in the darkness of the womb. Then one day, we felt extremely squeezed and pushed, and by a series of miraculous events we went from darkness to light. As we were born into the light, waiting for us, were the people who loved us most. That first journey from darkness to light may tell us more about life and death than we realize. Reaching for the Light in Birth and in Death Both in birth and death we reach for the light, whether it is the first breath we take or our last gasp. At the end of birth is joy, and at the end of life for those who know God there is joy beyond imagining. God defeats death through the resurrection of Jesus (1 Corinthians 15:26). He never intended us to have the experience of death, but the Fall had consequences. From Darkness to Light: The Bible’s Powerful Transition The Bible often compares our old life ruled by sin and our new life in Christ to going from darkness to light. The transition of faith is as profound as that of birth. Acts 26:18 tells us we are " transferred out of darkness into the light. " Ephesians 5:8 says that we actually were darkness but in Christ we have become light. All of this is possible because as Jesus Himself explains, " I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life " (John 8:12). Jesus – The Light of the World Who Guides Our Path In the Old Testament, Isaiah looks forward to this light. " The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, " as Isaiah 9:2 exclaims. Once " those who dwelt in the land of the shadow of death " have seen that light, they will never be the same. Now our path is illuminated. Where before the darkness made it difficult to see our way safely, now we have a light and His name is Jesus. Because we follow Him and He is the light, we will walk in the light He provides for us. His Holy Spirit living in us allows us to have light and to be light. In Psalm 119:105, we are told it is God's word that lights our path. John tells us that Jesus is the Word. A path is a rather narrow way through a greater darkness. We don't have to worry because although darkness surrounds us in the world, the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life shows us which way to go. Darkness represents sin, ignorance, and separation from God, but we don't fear it because He is the Light of our salvation. Because Jesus is the light of the world, without Him there would be no possibility of light. We were created in the garden to live in the light, but we sadly chose darkness. One day, in a time that may not be that far away, our Lord will return and we will once again live in a world purified by His light. Our light shines on others for one purpose, so that the good that we do will glorify God (Matthew 5:16). No one who turns to the light wants to hide it. We want it to shine for all to see. Like the transition from the darkness of sin to the light of redemption, death is also a transition. Without Jesus there would be no hope to live eternally with God, but now death only brings us closer to Him. Why Christians Have No Fear of Death The Bible spends a lot of time telling us not to fear. In the womb we have no fear of birth because we know nothing of our future, but death is different. Almost all of us have experienced the pain and grief of losing our loved ones. The natural man fears death because it is unknown. We grapple with being away from our loved ones. Some worry about what is on the other side. Some think nothing is on the other side. As Christians, we don't need to fear because we know we will be embraced by our loving Lord. We know that our saved loved ones will be there as well. We will no longer have tears or sadness because God's light will surround us. The Apostle Paul saw death in a positive light because then he would finally be with Jesus. Paul's whole life revolved around Jesus. His mission while he was alive was to share what Jesus had done with as many people as possible. All death meant to him was transitioning to a place where he could be present with Jesus all the time. For Paul, life was the place to prepare for our home in Heaven. Unlike Paul, not everyone chooses the light that gave him that confidence. " To live is Christ, to die is gain ." Philippians 1:21 Choosing Light Over Darkness – And Why It Matters Where God is the " Father of lights " (James 1:17), Satan is the ruler of the " domain of darkness " (Colossians 1:13). Where God brings life everlasting, Satan is called " a murderer from the beginning " (John 8:44). But why are people so attracted to darkness? What could possibly be the allure of death? Why do people choose darkness? Because the devil is the " father of lies " and opposed at every instance to God, he makes evil look good. He twists our minds into believing there will be no consequences for our behavior. He tells us we aren't hurting anyone else. All lies. He tempts us to abuse our natural desires. Whether it is sex or food or any number of other good things, the devil will tempt us to use them to excess and harm. In my view, his greatest appeal is to our pride. We want to sit on the throne of God and be in complete control. The devil makes us believe that is possible. We want to think that we are better than God at running our lives or even the world. Why doesn't light attract us more? Because, as Jesus tells us, the light uncovers things done in the darkness. Things that we do that we don't want to admit or acknowledge become known. Light causes us to have to reflect on our lives, on the people we have hurt, and the shameful things we have indulged in. Light strips away the excuses. As Christians, we are fighting darkness with light . Light forces change—but it also gives life. Just as physical light exposes what is hidden, it also is the very source that sustains and energizes all living things. We see this truth mirrored beautifully in God's creation, where science itself reveals the deeper spiritual reality. You may have learned in school that light is necessary for life. Light creates energy inside of plants that gets transferred to you when you eat them, or when you eat animals that ate them. But notice, you have to take the plants inside of you—all that light energy. To live forever, we have to take the light of Christ, which comes from His Holy Spirit to live in us, through faith in Him. Just like we choose to eat, we choose light over darkness to live with Christ. All we have to do is look around us, at the miracle of birth, or the way we get energy to live, to see God at work. We see hints of His light during birth and we also see His light is not just necessary for our spiritual well being, but He has even created a world where physical light is necessary for our physical well-being. Everything points to Him. Fearlessly Living and Dying in the Light of Christ In the end, when we approach death, we will look back on our life, if we belong to God, and see His hand at work in us. We will see how we have grown to be more like Him. We will understand better how His light has transformed us and prepared us for His kingdom. Scripture tells us we have been given an " armor of light " (Romans 13:12). We have nothing to fear in death, just as a baby has nothing to fear in birth. The life-giving light we see is our blessed Savior with whom we will live forever. So when we pass from this world to the next, do not be afraid. You are simply being born into the light again—this time into the arms of the Father of lights, the Savior who has been waiting for you all along.

There are three times in the Bible where it mentions God laughing. What does it mean that the Almighty laughs, and why should that make us pause? In no instance though is God laughing because something is funny. No, God laughs at the plans of men against Him. He laughs scoffingly. When God Laughs In Psalm 2:4, in response to evil men's plans against the Lord and His anointed, David tells us that God will laugh and " hold them in derision ". Some translations say scoff or that God will make fun of them. Only a fool would think he could defeat God's plans. Someone like that has no fear of the Lord. Our God is not just a God of love, but also a God of judgment. In Psalm 37:13 God laughs, with scorn and derision, because He sees the day of judgment coming for evil doers who plot against His people. Psalm 59:8 tells us that God laughs at those set themselves against those who are His. Fear The Lord In Proverbs 1:7 it says that knowledge begins with fearing the Lord and only someone who is a fool would hate wisdom and instruction. In Psalm 111:10 we read, "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom; A good understanding have all those who do His commandments. His praise endures forever." When Mary sings her song to Elizabeth in Luke 1:50 she tells her that God's mercy is on people who fear God. After Moses read the Ten Commandments to the people of Israel, he says to them in Exodus 20:20 that the fear of God should stay before us so that we don't sin. So to have knowledge, to have wisdom, to receive his mercy, and to keep us from sin we must fear God. If the people who opposed God in Psalm 2 had feared Him, they would not have opposed Him. God's plans could not be thwarted. God laughed at them because their plans to oppose Him would, in the end, fail miserably. God's Infinite Wisdom We can't tell God how things are going to be. God is infinitely wise. Proverbs 2:6 explains that all wisdom comes from God. God's plans are wise. If evil people plot against those who belong to Him, God laughs at those plans because ultimately, He is the judge of the living and the dead. Facing God With Fear And Trembling We will all face God. When we do it will be with fear and trembling, not shaking our fist or bragging about what we did. "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." Hebrews 10:31 The Bible is a transforming revelation of who God is. The beginning of this revelation, this knowledge, is fearing God. God's word helps us to understand our position before Him. That position should be one of humility . Psalm 2 continues and informs the kings of the earth to be wise and instructed. They are told to serve the Lord with fear and trembling because without that they will perish in His anger (Psalm 2:10-12). There Is None Like Him We should fear God in holy wonder, awe and reverence. We will all, those who love Him and those who don't, kneel before Him. As Christians, we are His children through the blood of Christ, and we know that " there is none like Him " as Jeremiah 10:6 tells us. Those who oppose us are scorned by God. No one should want to be on the receiving end of God's laughter. When God laughs, we need to pay attention. People can never successfully oppose Him. If they try there will be a price to pay.

Christ is our role model. How often we hear this. How does it make you feel? Hopeless? Hopefully not! Paul discusses this in Philippians 2:5, "Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ". What mind is Paul referring to? Paul tells us that even though Jesus was God in human form, He came to us as a humble servant. Jesus was totally obedient and humble to the will of His Father, even unto death on a cross (Philippians 2:6-11). His will was God's will - perfectly. In turn, God highly exalted Him above all creation to the point where ALL will confess that He is Lord. Because Jesus humbled himself, He will be elevated to the highest position possible - above all creation. Let This Mind Be In You Our goal as Christians is to be so obedient and humble that the Holy Spirit will work in and through us to do His perfect will. Our mind will be more and more like the mind of Christ. How will God use you ? We each have jobs to perform, tasks to do, good works to accomplish and it will only be when we humble ourselves before God and allow His Spirit to rule our lives that this can be done. Philippians 2:12-13 explains this, "Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure." Show Love As followers of Christ, we are to live out our life of faith in practice, by showing love in action in obedience to the Holy Spirit who lives within us. It is quite literally God who works in us to perform these good things. We do this with fear and trembling. Does this mean that we live in anxiety and dread over what God may do to us? No, not at all. When we fear the Lord , we are in awe of His power, in awe of His saving grace, and we " rejoice with trembling " as Psalm 2:11 states. Creator and Redeemer So often in church, we approach God as if He were just a normal occurrence. Same old, same old. We forget that we approach the throne of God, creator of the universe, the author and finisher of our faith. We forget to really think about who we worship, about who we say we adore. Instructed In Righteousness 2 Timothy 3:16-17, gives us guidance on how to be instructed in righteousness. It is the inspired word of God that will help us to do the good works that God expects us to do. God works in us through the indwelling Holy Spirit to will and to do His work. Our natural will is to do evil, but the Holy Spirit creates in us a will, a "want to" if you will, to do the will of God. But not just that, the Holy Spirit also gives us the power to do it. Sometimes we desire to do the will of God but we feel like we simply cannot do it. If we allow Him, the Holy Spirit will empower us for the work of God. In Zechariah 4:16(b), we are reminded that it is "‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’ Says the Lord of hosts." It isn't our abilities, it isn't our strength, it is the Lords ! Moses was used by God in a mighty way and the Bible tells us in Numbers 12:3 that he was the humblest man on earth. If we want to be used by God, if we want to know and do His will, then just as Jesus and Moses we have to humble ourselves before our mighty God . We need to put on the mind of Christ because if we do then we will humbly obey Him. Let this mind of Christ's be yours. Enjoy " Let All Mortal Flesh Keep Silent "

This Man Was: Flogged with 39 lashes - not once, not twice, not three times, not four but five times. Flogging was a Jewish punishment done with either an oxtail whip or a strap of leather cowhide that was folded multiple times and attached to a wooden handle. Jewish tradition says 1/3 of the lashes were given to the front of the body and 2/3 to the back. Three times beaten with rods. This was a Roman punishment given by civil authorities. Using birch wood rods they would beat someone all over their bodies. Sometimes the person was strung up and their feet were beaten until they were maimed. Stoned and drug out of town as they believed him to be dead. Stoning was the mode of execution that unbelieving Jews used to kill Christians. Shipwrecked three times as he journeyed far and wide to tell others about Jesus. In the ocean for a night and a day struggling to stay alive. Imagine yourself adrift in the ocean in the night time not knowing what kind of creature was nearby. In peril among robbers, his own countryman, among the gentiles, in cities, in the wilderness, in the sea and among false brethren. Exhausted from work, often sleepless, hungry, thirsty, often fasting, often cold and naked. ~2 Corinthians 11: 24-28~ And Yet This Man Never Lost Hope: "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God." Romans 5: 1-2 "And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us." Romans 5: 3-5 "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us. For the earnest expectation of the creation eagerly waits for the revealing of the sons of God." Romans 8: 18-19 " rejoicing in hope , patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer;" Romans 12:12 "If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men the most pitiable." I Corinthians 15: 19 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4: 13 "Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work." 2 Thessalonians 2: 16-17 "that by two immutable things, in which it is impossible for God to lie, we might have strong consolation, who have fled for refuge to lay hold of the hope set before us. This hope we have as an anchor of the sou l, both sure and steadfast, and which enters the Presence behind the veil, " Hebrews 6: 18-19 Author, Role Model, Missionary He was a Roman citizen and a well-educated Jewish man who " still breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked letters from him to the synagogues of Damascus, so that if he found any who were of the Way, whether men or women, he might bring them bound to Jerusalem. " (Acts 9: 1-2) until the Lord appeared to Him on the road to Damascus and transformed him into the greatest missionary for Jesus the world has known. He wrote almost half of the New Testament. Forgiven of much, he loved much. He lived a life of hope and peace in spite of the terrible hardships he endured. Eventually he was executed by beheading by the Romans. What a model for a Christian life we have in this man. His name was Paul A True Man of God

In Ezekiel chapter 22, the prophet explains that the punishment of God must fall on the Israelites because of their sin. He tells them in verse 15 that He will " scatter them among the nations ". Ezekiel goes into much detail to describe the many sins of the people. All manner of society, from corrupt leaders only interested in gain, to prophets who dared to say, " Thus sayeth the Lord ," as they lied; to priests who did not treat what was holy as holy; all the way down to the people, each group is called out with their sins. How Has Israel Sinned? In verse 12, we read the root cause of all their sin. " You have forgotten me ," says the Lord. Because the people had forgotten their God, they fell into sin easily. They had not honored their fathers and mothers, they had mistreated orphans, widows, the poor and the needy. They hadn't taken in the stranger, they had profaned the Sabbath, and they had gotten dishonest profit by extortion, bribes, and even murder. Adultery and incest had become rampant. God Seeks for Someone And so, for all of this, the Lord's wrath and judgment was brought to bear upon them. At this point, almost with a hint of sorrow, the Lord says in verse 30, "So I sought for a man among them who would make a wall, and stand in the gap before Me on behalf of the land, that I should not destroy it; but I found no one." God desperately wanted to find a man who would "stand in the gap" so that this judgment could be avoided. As Ezekiel 33:11 tells us, God does not take pleasure in the deaths of wicked people. Cities with Walls In those days cities were surrounded by large defensive walls that could withstand the attacks of the enemy. If they were breached by having a gap, or a hole, put into them by the enemy, the enemy would pour through it unless the city could mount a defense to keep this from happening. Unless someone stood in the gap. Moses Stood in the Gap This expression is used in several places in the Old Testament. In Exodus 32:9-14, Moses prayed for the people that they would not be destroyed when they were found worshipping the golden calf. In Psalm 106:23, referring to this event, Moses is said to have " stood in the breach " stopping their utter destruction. When we stand in the gap, we are pleading with God to have mercy on His sinful people. Others Stood in the Gap In 1 Samuel 12:23 Samuel says " Far be it from me that I should sin against the Lord, by failing to pray for you ." Samuel prayed for the Israelites because they had made the sinful request of asking for a king. In Amos 7:5-6, Amos prayed for the sinful people and the Lord decided to withhold judgement for a time. In the book of Jonah, even though initially unwilling, Jonah delivered a word to the people of Nineveh who repented and were spared judgment. Abraham prayed for the people of Sodom, that for the sake of a few righteous souls it would not be destroyed. Only Lot and his family were spared (Genesis 18). Are We Standing in the Gap? Are we standing in the gap today with intercessory praye r for our spouse, our children, our church and our nation? According to Samuel, it is sinful not to pray for those who are potentially being judged. Looking back I know that the intercessory prayer of my mother helped to bring me back to the right path, to God. Today we know that we are blessed with the ultimate intercessor, our Savior. In John 8:34, 1 John 2:1 and Hebrews 7:25 we read that Jesus is our advocate before the Father, always interceding for us. Repair the Breach In Isaiah 58, Isaiah says that "we are the repairer of the breach " when we are obedient to the commands of God. Are we actively working to show love to others? Are we honoring our fathers and our mothers? Are we defending the widow and the orphan? Are we sharing food and bringing into our homes those who are cast out? Are we honest in our financial dealings? You are Needed Sin is what breaches the wall, sin is what tears down the wall. It is the destroyer of our soul. As our Savior stands in the gap for us, so we should for others. Through our actions and our intercessions we can affect the world around us, from our families to the halls of government. Now more than ever there is a need for someone who could be found standing in the gap. Stand in the Gap

The Power of Smell and Memory in Scripture  The smell of sweet honeysuckle in the spring is like no other. As a child we touched its nectar to our tongues and imagined what the birds and bees did with it. The smell conjured up images of warm, sunny days and walks in the woods. Fresh peaches, that was another wonderful smell. In those days peaches were sweet and made the very best pies on earth. They smelled of peaches, cinnamon, and summer. Smell is a powerful sense. It brings up memories, some not always good. Maybe you remember the stench of your dog coming back covered in skunk spray, cleaning out the dairy cow barn, or accidentally getting a whiff of your Mom's cleaning ammonia. Sometimes the same smell that one person considers wonderful smells terrible to someone else. The same smell that is delightful to one can cause someone else to have an asthma attack. The Lord uses the imagery of smell in his Word to convey when something is acceptable and when it is not. It is beautiful, figurative language. A Pleasing Aroma or a Stench? Understanding Sacrifices Sacrifices that were made in the Old Testament had a "pleasing aroma" to God when they were accompanied with sincerity, true repentance, and obedience. This sweet smell is symbolic of the importance of relationship, obedience and worship between God and His people. These same sacrifices were like a "stench" to God when they were offered with no sincerity, repentance, or obedience (Isaiah 65:5). The Fragrance of Christ: A Pleasing Aroma to God Paul describes Jesus as the ultimate sacrifice, the one most pleasing to God in Ephesians 5:2: “ Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. " This is why we, as believers, are called to carry the fragrance of Christ—a pleasing aroma to God that reflects our faith and obedience. Jesus lived in perfect obedience and was sinless before God. His sacrifice on the cross for our sins is forever good and acceptable to God. Christ gave Himself up for us. What greater love can there be? Dear friend, if you ever doubt His love toward you remember that. The Aroma of Christ: A Message of Life or Death? In 2 Corinthians 2:14-16, Paul talks of our triumph in Christ in ways that would have been very understandable to his audience. He says that " God leads us in triumph in Christ " and " through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place. " We Christians " are to God the fragrance of Christ among " both the saved and the lost. " To the one we are the aroma of death leading to death, and to the other the aroma of life leading to life. " Paul's symbolism would have been understood by the Corinthians. They had witnessed Roman victory parades with all the glory given to the Roman conquerors. They would have smelled the scent of incense in the air during these parades. The Roman Victory Parade and the Fragrance of Triumph Like a triumphant Roman parade returning from a successful campaign, the commander leads the parade. Following the commander is his triumphant army, and last come the prisoners, many of whom would be sentenced to death. Incense was offered as a symbol of victory, celebrating the defeat of Rome’s enemies. Bystanders could not only see the spoils of battle but also smell them. The smell brought joy to those who celebrated Rome's victory, but for the prisoners of war, it was a reminder of their impending death. Just as the Roman general led his army in triumph, Christ leads us in a far greater victory—not one of earthly conquest, but of deliverance from sin and death.  From Captives to Conquerors: Our Role in Christ’s Victory Jesus is the commander of the Lord's triumphant army (Joshua 5:13-15). We are his soldiers (Philippians 2:25). At one point in our lives we were all captives, captives and slaves to sin, but now, if we belong to Jesus, we are like the Roman soldiers called to battle, but our battle is against sin. We are slaves now to Jesus and willing to lay down our lives for Him (Romans 6:15-23). The Fragrance of Christ in Our Daily Lives But what is the knowledge of God ? It is a gift given to us by Him through which we can understand His truth and grow to be more like Him. The more we grow in relationship to Him the more we should want to share this knowledge with others. If people are in the ocean drowning and I have a way to save them, would I keep all the life jackets and lifebuoys to myself? Would that be love? The knowledge of Jesus should flow from me as naturally as the fragrance of a honeysuckle vine in bloom. Imagine you’re at work and notice a coworker visibly upset. Instead of just passing by, you take a moment to ask if they’re alright and listen carefully to their concerns. You offer a word of encouragement or even share a brief prayer with them if they're open to it. This small act of kindness not only helps lift their spirit but also becomes a real expression of Christ’s love. It is a sweet, enduring fragrance that reflects His grace and compassion in your daily life. So Paul is saying the fragrance of the knowledge of Jesus goes forth from us in all directions. It permeates the space we are in like the incense in the parade. This knowledge of Christ is an aroma that signifies victory over evil. We shouldn't even have to talk for someone to sense Christ in us. The things we do and the things we say spread His knowledge. When those around us are aware of it, it is sweet smelling to those who accept Him and believe in Him, but to those who reject Him it is a symbol of the judgment that awaits them at death. What Do Others Smell When They Are Near You? In Philippians 4:18, Paul talks about receiving a gift from the church at Philippi from Epaphroditus. He says they are " an odor of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, well pleasing to God. " When people are around us what do they think of God? What 'fragrance' do our actions and words make them think of? Are we well pleasing to God? We are a letter from Christ as Paul says (2 Corinthians 3:3). Like the pages of a scented love letter, our pleasing odor to God should rise from the pages of our life. Some people will want to draw near to this fragrance while others will want to get away from it as quickly as possible. When some people smell this scent of the knowledge of Jesus, they will want to smell more, they will want to be closer to find out more about this Jesus. For others, they will run. This knowledge of Jesus is convicting, it means change, it means giving up self.  The Final Choice: The Sweet Smell of Life or the Stench of Death We have two choices in this life, to accept or reject the love of Christ. One choice leads to life and one to death. One choice is like a sweet aroma, a memory of goodness we cherish; the other is putrid, foul, and repelling. The devil will do his best to spread lies. He will tell us that we don't need Jesus. That Jesus doesn't love us. But Jesus has already won this battle for us. There is victory in Jesus . Jesus is the only answer for a life longing to experience the fullness of God's love. "But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:57 Who is Sufficient for These Things? Living as a Fragrant Offering Paul concludes verse 16 by saying, " And who is sufficient for these things? " Paul is humbled by the knowledge that Jesus has left us on this earth to spread His knowledge. It is His love, His forgiveness, His mercy, His generosity, and His sacrifice that we are to show others in our lives. This is His fragrance. Only by the grace of God are we sufficient to bring this knowledge to others. When God sees and smells our life is it a pleasing aroma that He receives? If we are humble, obedient, and repentant it will be. Or is it a stench? God knows our heart. He knows if we are sincere. Do we offer a sacrifice of praise to Him (Hebrews 13:15-16)? We praise God for who He is, even in our dark times. Do we come to Him in humility and obedience as Lord of all? When someone is near you can they smell a sweet aroma of the sacrifice of your life for Christ, or are they unsure? Let's make sure they know we live for Christ by praying, studying and being diligent Christians . Do we remember who it is that is at the head of this triumphant parade we are marching in? Do we remember who has the victory? Praise be Jesus Christ, King of Glory! Enjoy Victory in Jesus performed by the Band Steele

"But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment." Matthew 12:36 What Does Jesus Mean by “Idle Words” in Matthew 12:36? What is an idle word or idle talk? Biblically, in Greek, the phrase is rema argos , meaning “ careless or inactive or unprofitable words. ” They are meaningless, harmful, or careless words that can wound others and even reveal the state of our hearts. The dangers of idle words are many, but for Christians they primarily harm our witness to others and our relationship with God. Prior to this verse, the Pharisees had just accused Jesus of casting out demons using the power of Beelzebub (another name for Satan). Jesus tells them in Matthew 12:34, "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks." Idle Words Reveal the Condition of the Heart The Pharisees had blasphemed our Lord. Instead of recognizing His power came from God, they were accusing Him of being in league with the Devil. The idle words they spoke betrayed their hearts. The words coming from our mouths are not easily controlled. The Bible on Taming the Tongue (James 3 Explained) James discusses the terrible problem of taming our tongues in James 3:1-12. "But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God." ( James 3:8-9 ) Idle words have no place in the mouths of Christians. The Holy Spirit alone can help us overcome them. What Are Idle Words? Practical Examples of Careless Speech Idle words, according to vocabulary.com are, "empty rhetoric or insincere or exaggerated talk synonyms; jazz, malarky, nothingness, wind." Everyone has heard, for example, people on television expounding on a subject and actually saying very little. We often use the expression, " talking to hear themselves talk ", to describe this. Idle words serve NO good purpose. The Dangers of Idle Words in Everyday Life Idle words can destroy lives. People have literally had their families destroyed, their jobs lost, and even sometimes their very lives lost because of idle words. When we speak we need to pause and ask ourselves, "Does what I am about to say serve a good purpose?" That old adage, " think before you speak ", has a lot of value. Words don't have to be evil to be sinful. Paul teaches us in Ephesians 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." The New Living Translation says it this way: "Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them." So bad language, language that is hurtful, name-calling, all are wrong, but instead we should be the type of person who encourages and helps others. Our spoken words are a reflection of our inner life. Our purpose is to encourage each other . Idle Words in the Digital Age: Social Media, Gossip, and Self-Talk Idle words are everywhere on the internet. People seem to feel as though, since they don't know you and will never see you, they can say anything and it's okay. How about speaking about someone behind their back—even if it's true? How about lying to someone just to make them happy or avoid an argument? We can even speak idle words to ourselves. Have you ever spoken to yourself in a derogatory way? Tearing yourself down with your own words. God never tells us to do this. That voice is not His. Have you ever tattled on someone at work for not doing their job properly? It may be very tempting to share something bad about a colleague just to make ourselves look good. All of these are examples of idle words. Do we brag and boast of our accomplishments? Maybe we insincerely flatter people around us that we deem important and helpful to us. On the other hand, perhaps we demean or make fun of people we don't value. Do we use our Lord's name as an expression that has nothing to do with worship? The more we listen to foul language, the more we are exposed to it, the harder it becomes to not use it. Are the movies we watch ridden with foul language? Have we heard G-- D--- so many times that we don't even notice it anymore? Do we say, "Oh my G--" and not think twice? We should be a Christian witness in a divided world . When we were children and others would bully us, we used to recite a little poem, " Sticks and stones can break my bones, but words will never hurt me." Sadly that is usually not true. Bullying, demeaning others does hurt people and often does have lasting effects. An example of the danger of idle words is the following story. There was once a person who was very passionate about their work and loved what they did. They had worked hard to get to where they were. They were proud of their accomplishments. One day, they received some feedback from a colleague that was not only negative but also very hurtful. The colleague had criticized their work in front of others and had used harsh words that left the person feeling embarrassed and ashamed. This incident became a turning point in the person's life. They started to doubt their abilities, lost their confidence, and began to second-guess themselves at work. They became much more reserved and avoided speaking up, even when they had valuable insights to share. They stopped enjoying their work and became much less productive, which eventually led to them losing their job. The person's life had been impacted by the idle words of their colleague, and it took them a long time to regain their confidence and find their passion again. How Christians Can Guard Their Words and Reflect Christ My prayer is that the Holy Spirit will bring to my attention the times I say " idle " words. Then I can ask forgiveness and try to continue to be more like Jesus. I want a heart that is loving, one from which kind words can flow. I have failed desperately many times, but my goal is to have the heart of Jesus, to build up and not tear down, to encourage and not discourage the people around me. James warns us to bridle our tongues, and if we don't, we are deceived about our heart. To be religious, he says we must show restraint in how we speak, if we don't our religion is useless (James 1:26). Those are strong words. Those are difficult words to hear. We should be so different from the world around us that we are like a stranger in the earth . We can all think back to moments in our lives when we have been on the receiving end of idle words. You know how it feels. We say we are Christians. As an old hymn says, "They will know we are Christians by our love." Our words are a window into our hearts. Do we truly love? We should pray with David for God's help as he does in Psalm 141:3, "Set a guard, O Lord, over my mouth; keep watch over the door of my lips." The Dangers of Idle Words