Summer’s here and the streets are full of parades and protests.
In relatively ‘free’ societies a range of views are expressed and different practices promoted or condemned. The internet groans under the weight of social comment.
I admit to a mixture of thoughts and emotions. Issues, like people, can be complex. We should all think deeply and prayerfully, choose our words carefully and on occasions it may be better to be quiet.
Just let me share some words from my Scripture readings this week.
Some 3000 years ago King David despaired of social trends in his day, saying, ‘Everyone lies to his neighbour; their flattering lips speak with deception…The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honoured among men.’ (Psalm 12 v 2,8)
Then some words of Jesus Himself: ‘Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken.’ (Matthew 12 v 34-36)
Hmmm, that’s surely worth thinking about! What are we saying? What are we ‘storing’ inside us?
We try to teach children, ‘Before we speak let’s ask ourselves, ‘Is this true? Is it kind?’’ And if we want our words to be worth something, positive, constructive, more good than bad then according to Jesus we need to store up some ‘good’ material in our minds and hearts! The wisdom found in the Bible would be an excellent place to start.
‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…’ (Colossians 3 v 16)
May He help us do just that and may the ‘overflow’ be the better for it!
In relatively ‘free’ societies a range of views are expressed and different practices promoted or condemned. The internet groans under the weight of social comment.
I admit to a mixture of thoughts and emotions. Issues, like people, can be complex. We should all think deeply and prayerfully, choose our words carefully and on occasions it may be better to be quiet.
Just let me share some words from my Scripture readings this week.
Some 3000 years ago King David despaired of social trends in his day, saying, ‘Everyone lies to his neighbour; their flattering lips speak with deception…The wicked freely strut about when what is vile is honoured among men.’ (Psalm 12 v 2,8)
Then some words of Jesus Himself: ‘Out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgement for every careless word they have spoken.’ (Matthew 12 v 34-36)
Hmmm, that’s surely worth thinking about! What are we saying? What are we ‘storing’ inside us?
We try to teach children, ‘Before we speak let’s ask ourselves, ‘Is this true? Is it kind?’’ And if we want our words to be worth something, positive, constructive, more good than bad then according to Jesus we need to store up some ‘good’ material in our minds and hearts! The wisdom found in the Bible would be an excellent place to start.
‘Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly…’ (Colossians 3 v 16)
May He help us do just that and may the ‘overflow’ be the better for it!
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