What Say You?
Steve Martin
"But the things that proceed out of the mouth come from the heart, and those defile the man. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, slanders. These are the things which defile the man;” (Jesus, from Matthew 15:18-20, NASU)
For this message, I will get right to the point.
The ones who criticize others generally don’t pray for others. If you are continually praying for someone or some situation, you will not be critical of them or that. But rather you will want good to come to about, rather than evil because your heart now cares for them.
When you pray for another, rather than tear them down, it gives the Lord the opportunity to change their heart too, because you are no longer joining with Satan in accusing them.
“Then I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, "Now the salvation, and the power, and the kingdom of our God and the authority of His Christ have come, for the accuser of our brethren has been thrown down, he who accuses them before our God day and night.”
(Revelation 12:10-11, NASU)
What is your prayer life like? Or does your criticism rule your life?
In the past, I regret and repented of those times when I spoke evil against another, be it in the religious, secular, or political arenas. It didn’t matter if it was directly or behind their back.
Even if I “may have been in the right” in speaking out against a wrong done by the other, if my heart wasn’t right, then the spoken word from the heart didn’t make it right.
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| Louis & Lila Martin |
Personally, I am a very quiet man. Some because of the way I was raised with my dad. He too was a quiet man. Another reason is that I am very aware that we will give an account for every word we speak.
Paul wrote to those in Rome, who had every right to rail against the government, the rulers, or those who were feeding them to the lions. He told them not even of their believing brother (or sister) are they to judge one another.
“But you, why do you judge your brother? Or you again, why do you regard your brother with contempt? For we will all stand before the judgment seat of God.
For it is written, "AS I LIVE, SAYS THE LORD, EVERY KNEE SHALL BOW TO ME, AND EVERY TONGUE SHALL GIVE PRAISE TO GOD." So then each one of us will give an account of himself to God.” (Romans 14:10-12, NASU)
It is not just in the latter part of God’s Word, which some Christians only read (the New Testament), but even in the times of the prophets and kings, the instruction was given from heaven to watch your mouth.
“The words of a man’s mouth are deep water, a gushing torrent, a fountain of wisdom. It is not good to be partial to the guilty and thus deprive the innocent of justice. A fool’s words get him into fights; yes, his mouth calls out for a beating. A fool’s mouth is his ruin; his words are a trap for him. A slanderer’s words are tasty morsels; they slide right down into the belly.”
(Proverbs 18:4-8, Complete Jewish Bible)
Have you ever cringed when you hear another speak badly against another? Doesn’t it affect your spirit to stand and listen, and take part in it also? I have gotten to the point where my heart grieves, especially when a believer rails against another believer, whether it be the rabbi, pastor, elected official, teacher. It seems no one in our “exemplary society” is exempt from being cursed, ridiculed, or maligned by another. After all, it is our right, is it not? Free speech you say?
Is it really our right to spout off against anyone or anything? I think not. That is what the Bible declares also.
Next time you have the urge, the temptation, the opportunity to speak against another, stop for a moment and realize your words bring death, not lift.
Have we forgotten the old saying, “If words could kill, I would be dead.”
And I still have to remember, when being on the receiving side of the cursing and criticism, to recite these words that my good mother taught me when growing up, “Stick and stones may break my bones but words may never harm me.” And yet, sad to say, they really do. It is because our words spoken against another gives the enemy of our soul ammunition to tear further down that one which we have just aligned our self with the devil.
May we not find ourselves being on Satan’s side. If we stand accusing others, then we have already done so.
As quoted above from Scripture, Satan stands before God, as he did back then in regard to the righteous man Job, and continues to do so now, day and night, accusing the saints of God. Do we align ourselves with him, or stand with our brothers and sisters because they too are the ones whom Jesus our Lord, the Messiah, bled and died for?
Stop the criticism. Repent of the critical spirit. Get your act together as the family of God should be so we can get on with what He has given us the job to do.
Pray for your rabbi. Pray for your pastor. What kind of burden do they have to carry each day, caring for your good? And especially pray for the worship leaders and cantors, even if they don’t always sing your favorite verse or song every Saturday or Sunday, especially the way you would. (If only they were as perfect as you are.)
As the Bible also says, pray also for our political leaders. We all know that they need the wisdom and righteous of the Lord Yeshua (Jesus) working in and through their minds, hearts, and souls.
“Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence.
For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.” (1 Timothy 2:1-5, NKJV)
Pray for others. Life them up, and cease being among those who are tearing down.
I like what Toby Mac sings, “Speak life!”
So, as they say here in the South (and maybe elsewhere?) - “What say you?”
Shalom and ahava (peace and love in Hebrew).
Now think on this,
Steve Martin
Founder/President
Love For His People, Inc.
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Now Think On This #388 - in the year of our Lord 02.06.19 – “What Say You” – Wednesday, 4 pm
