Words take on a life of their own
October 23, 2008 (Thursday)
Have you read Galatians 5 lately? It contrasts the “works of the flesh” with the “fruit of the Spirit.” It seems to me that a lot of the email going around these days appeals more to the carnal nature than the spiritual nature.
I believe our highest duty as Christians is to the Lord. I need to remember that the Scripture declares, “we must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ; that every one may receive the things done in his body, according to that he hath done, whether it be good or bad” (2 Cor 5:10 NIV). Surely that means I will answer to the Lord about what I have done and said in this life. What kind of values am I promoting?
What are these values? The Contemporary English Version of the Bible says it this way: “People’s desires make them give in to immoral ways, filthy thoughts, and shameful deeds. They worship idols, practice witchcraft, hate others, and are hard to get along with. People become jealous, angry, and selfish. They not only argue and cause trouble, but they are envious. They get drunk, carry on at wild parties, and do other evil things as well. I told you before, and I am telling you again: No one who does these things will share in the blessings of God’s kingdom. God’s Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways. And because we belong to Christ Jesus, we have killed our selfish feelings and desires. God’s Spirit has given us life, and so we should follow the Spirit. But don’t be conceited or make others jealous by claiming to be better than they are” (Galatians 5:19-26 CEV).
Before you send out that next piece of literature that fosters fear and anger, please ask yourself, “Is this consistent with my love for Christ? Am I really doing what Jesus wants me to do as I forward these materials?”
Jesus Christ rejected the Devil’s ways to do God’s work, even though the Devil quoted Scriptures to try and convince Jesus that “wrong” is “right.” (Matthew 4).