LHM Daily Devotion - October 6, 2017 "Only Jesus"

In Japan they have an event called the Life Ending Industry Expo...

Daily Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

By Pastor Ken Klaus, Speaker Emeritus of The Lutheran Hour

"Only Jesus"

October 6, 2017

(Peter said) "And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other Name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved."

~ Acts 4:12 (ESV)

In Japan they have an event called the Life Ending Industry Expo.

The Life Ending Industry Expo is an occasion for everyone involved with Japan's funeral industry to see the latest and the greatest products which hope to shape the future of funerals. This year the star of the event was Pepper the Robot.

What, you don't know Pepper? Allow me to make the introduction. Pepper is a human-shaped robot who was introduced in 2014 by his manufacturer, the Nissei Eco Company. Pepper first found employment at SoftBank Mobile stores where he welcomed customers to the establishment. His software enabled him to "read" people's emotions and tailor his greeting accordingly.

Now it appears the economy has made it necessary for Pepper to branch out into other areas. You see, many Buddhist worship leaders have been having a tough time making ends meet. As a result, many of them are taking second jobs. Who can say whether such a thing is good or bad? I do know it's difficult to schedule a funeral with a priest who has a full-time job.

This is why Pepper came to the Life Ending Industry Expo.

Dressed in the robes of a Buddhist monk, Pepper's trainers and teachers had given him the ability to chant Buddhist mantras and sutras. Along with knowing the inner workings of a funeral, Pepper's biggest selling point was he can be rented to preside at a funeral for almost $450. To get a living, breathing Buddhist priest to do the same can cost in excess of $2,200.

That is not to say that Pepper has been greeted by all with warm and open arms. There are those who think Pepper is never going to be up to the job.

They believe Pepper is severely hampered by a lack of soul and an inability to understand faith, sin, guilt, faith, forgiveness, and religion. They say Pepper's shortcomings are the reason why nobody in all of Japan has used the robot to perform a funeral service for their family.

Me, I hate the idea of seeing a robot in a pulpit on Sunday, in the confessional on Saturday, and in a hospital's sick room the rest of the week. Now, I'm not ready to say these robots won't be able to make it uncomfortable for the Savior's undershepherds. As fast as technology is advancing, the sad day may come when clergy find themselves being benched, while the artificial intelligence squad is sent in.

There is no such replacement worry when it comes to the Savior's work of rescuing us from sin, Satan, and the world.

In the halls of history, Jesus is unique. His miracles of healing and resurrection, His command over the forces of nature show that He possesses a power that is limitless. His teachings are powerful, profound, and divine. His willingness to suffer and lay down His life as the ransom price for sinful humanity defies human explanation or understanding.

Jesus is unique, and He is unique because He is the Savior.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, we live in a sinful world which is constantly changing. Grant that I may put my trust in that which never changes: my Savior, Jesus Christ. In His Name I pray. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin!  Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).

CPTLN Devocional de 06 de Octubre de 2017

Alimento Diario

Ama a tus enemigos

06 de Octubre 2017

Pero yo les digo: Amen a sus enemigos, bendigan a los que los maldicen, hagan bien a los que los odian, y oren por quienes los persiguen.

~ Mateo 5:44, RVC

Quienes viven en el Medio Oriente y en el norte de África viven en un mundo donde, en la mayoría de los casos, a Jesús no se lo reconoce como el Salvador del mundo. Muchos piensan que no fue más que un profeta, lo ponen a la altura de Abraham o Mohammed y lamentablemente no creen en la salvación que Jesús logró en la cruz.

Esos países tienen una larga historia de diferencias amargas entre las distintas expresiones de fe y culturas, que a menudo llevan a actos de violencia. Cuando las relaciones se deterioran al punto de causar heridas, la fe cristiana ofrece y alienta al perdón: el cristiano debe poner la otra mejilla y perdonar. Resistiendo el impulso de guardar rencor y dejar que el sol se ponga sobre los sentimientos heridos, los cristianos deben buscar y ofrecer perdón, especialmente a sus enemigos.

Jesús nos lo enseña muy claramente cuando dice: "Pero yo les digo: Amen a sus enemigos, bendigan a los que los maldicen, hagan bien a los que los odian, y oren por quienes los persiguen" (Mateo 5:44). Cuando el odio ha reinado durante décadas y levantado barreras divisorias, se hace muy difícil perdonar. Pero aun en esos casos, se nos dice que el odio puede ser vencido: "... para Dios todo es posible" (Mateo 19:26b). En Jesús tenemos el ejemplo perfecto de perdón del cual podemos aprender. Sus palabras en la cruz fueron: "Padre, perdónalos, porque no saben lo que hacen" (Lucas 23:34).

En el Padrenuestro Jesús nos enseña: "Perdónanos nuestras deudas, como también nosotros perdonamos a nuestros deudores." (Mateo 6:12). Es fácil decir que vamos a perdonar a nuestros enemigos, pero en realidad es muy difícil. Es difícil porque al hacerlo creemos que dejamos que el enemigo se salga con la suya y que piense que somos débiles.

La verdad es que, para perdonar, se requiere una fuerza enorme -una fuerza que es posible tener sólo a través del poder del Espíritu Santo.

ORACIÓN: Padre celestial, ayúdanos a aprender de Jesús a perdonar completa y honestamente a nuestros enemigos. Llena nuestros corazones con tu paz y consuelo. Te lo pedimos en el nombre de Jesús. Amén.

Biografía del autor: Marc Rahme dedica su tiempo al Ministerio Luterano en el Medio Oriente (MELM por sus siglas en inglés) también conocido como LHM - Líbano.

© Copyright 2017 Cristo Para Todas Las Naciones. ¡Utilice estas devociones en sus boletines! Usado con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados por la Int'l LLL.

The Daily Readings for THURSDAY, October 5, 2017

2 Kings 18:28-37

Then the Rabshakeh stood and called out in a loud voice in the language of Judah, "Hear the word of the great king, the king of Assyria! Thus says the king: 'Do not let Hezekiah deceive you, for he will not be able to deliver you out of my hand. Do not let Hezekiah make you rely on the LORD by saying, The LORD will surely deliver us, and this city will not be given into the hand of the king of Assyria.' Do not listen to Hezekiah; for thus says the king of Assyria: 'Make your peace with me and come out to me; then every one of you will eat from your own vine and your own fig tree, and drink water from your own cistern, until I come and take you away to a land like your own land, a land of grain and wine, a land of bread and vineyards, a land of olive oil and honey, that you may live and not die. Do not listen to Hezekiah when he misleads you by saying, The LORD will deliver us. Has any of the gods of the nations ever delivered its land out of the hand of the king of Assyria? Where are the gods of Hamath and Arpad? Where are the gods of Sepharvaim, Hena, and Ivvah? Have they delivered Samaria out of my hand? Who among all the gods of the countries have delivered their countries out of my hand, that the LORD should deliver Jerusalem out of my hand?'" But the people were silent and answered him not a word, for the king's command was, "Do not answer him." Then Eliakim son of Hilkiah, who was in charge of the palace, and Shebna the secretary, and Joah son of Asaph, the recorder, came to Hezekiah with their clothes torn and told him the words of the Rabshakeh.

1 Corinthians 9:1-15

Am I not free? Am I not an apostle? Have I not seen Jesus our Lord? Are you not my work in the Lord? If I am not an apostle to others, at least I am to you; for you are the seal of my apostleship in the Lord. This is my defense to those who would examine me. Do we not have the right to our food and drink? Do we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas? Or is it only Barnabas and I who have no right to refrain from working for a living? Who at any time pays the expenses for doing military service? Who plants a vineyard and does not eat any of its fruit? Or who tends a flock and does not get any of its milk? Do I say this on human authority? Does not the law also say the same? For it is written in the law of Moses, "You shall not muzzle an ox while it is treading out the grain." Is it for oxen that God is concerned? Or does he not speak entirely for our sake? It was indeed written for our sake, for whoever plows should plow in hope and whoever threshes should thresh in hope of a share in the crop. If we have sown spiritual good among you, is it too much if we reap your material benefits? If others share this rightful claim on you, do not we still more? Nevertheless, we have not made use of this right, but we endure anything rather than put an obstacle in the way of the gospel of Christ. Do you not know that those who are employed in the temple service get their food from the temple, and those who serve at the altar share in what is sacrificed on the altar? In the same way, the Lord commanded that those who proclaim the gospel should get their living by the gospel. But I have made no use of any of these rights, nor am I writing this so that they may be applied in my case. Indeed, I would rather die than that-- no one will deprive me of my ground for boasting!

Matthew 7:22-29

On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?' Then I will declare to them, 'I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.' "Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell-- and great was its fall!" Now when Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were astounded at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority, and not as their scribes.

Morning Psalms

Psalm 105: Part I Confitemini Domino
1   Give thanks to the LORD and call upon his Name; make known his deeds among the peoples.
2   Sing to him, sing praises to him, and speak of all his marvelous works.
3   Glory in his holy Name; let the hearts of those who seek the LORD rejoice.
4   Search for the LORD and his strength; continually seek his face.
5   Remember the marvels he has done, his wonders and the judgments of his mouth,
6   O offspring of Abraham his servant, O children of Jacob his chosen.
7   He is the LORD our God; his judgments prevail in all the world.
8   He has always been mindful of his covenant, the promise he made for a thousand generations:
9   The covenant he made with Abraham, the oath that he swore to Issac,
10   Which he established as a statute for Jacob, an everlasting covenant for Israel,
11   Saying, "To you will I give the land of Canaan to be your allotted inheritance."
12   When they were few in number, of little account, and sojourners in the land,
13   Wandering from nation to nation and from one kingdom to another,
14   He let no one oppress them and rebuked kings for their sake,
15   Saying, "Do not touch my anointed and do my prophets no harm."
16   Then he called for a famine in the land and destroyed the supply of bread.
17   He sent a man before them, Joseph, who was sold as a slave.
18   They bruised his feet in fetters; his neck they put in an iron collar.
19   Until his prediction came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.
20   The king sent and released him; the ruler of the peoples set him free.
21   He set him as a master over his household, as a ruler over all his possessions,
22   To instruct his princes according to his will and to teach his elders wisdom.

Evening Psalms

Psalm 105: Part II Et intravit Israel
23   Israel came into Egypt, and Jacob became a sojourner in the land of Ham.
24   The LORD made his people exceedingly fruitful; he made them stronger than their enemies;
25   Whose heart he turned, so that they hated his people, and dealt unjustly with his servants.
26   He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron whom he had chosen.
27   They worked his signs among them, and portents in the land of Ham.
28   He sent darkness, and it grew dark; but the Egyptians rebelled against his words.
29   He turned their waters into blood and caused their fish to die.
30   Their land was overrun by frogs, in the very chambers of their kings.
31   He spoke, and there came swarms of insects and gnats within all their borders.
32   He gave them hailstones instead of rain, and flames of fire throughout their land.
33   He blasted their vines and their fig trees and shattered every tree in their country.
34   He spoke, and the locust came, and young locusts without number,
35   Which ate up all the green plants in their land and devoured the fruit of their soil.
36   He struck down the firstborn of their land, the firstfruits of all their strength.
37   He led out his people with silver and gold; in all their tribes there was not one that stumbled.
38   Egypt was glad of their going, because they were afraid of them.
39   He spread out a cloud for a covering and a fire to give light in the night season.
40   They asked, and quails appeared, and he satisfied them with bread from heaven.
41   He opened the rock, and water flowed, so the river ran in the dry places.
42   For God remembered his holy word and Abraham his servant.
43   So he led forth his people with gladness, his chosen with shouts of joy.
44   He gave his people the lands of the nations, and they took the fruit of others' toil,
45   That they might keep his statutes and observe his laws. Hallelujah!

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.

Prayer of the Day for THURSDAY, October 5, 2017

May all I do today begin with you, O Lord. Plant dreams and hopes within my soul and revive my tired spirit: be with me today. Be at my side and walk with me; be my support, that your hand may be seen in every action I take, that your goodness may be in every word I speak, and that your spirit may inhabit my every thought. Make my thoughts, my work, and my very life blessings for your kingdom. In Christ's name I pray,

Amen

Verse of the Day for THURSDAY, October 5, 2017

Isaiah 55:6 (NIV) Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.

Read all of Isaiah 55

Listen to Isaiah 55

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Morning Devotions with Cap'n Kenny - My Time is My Own!

My Time is My Own!

So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom.

~ Psalm 90:12 (ESV)

When asked to help, the two most common responses are always “I do not have the time” or “I do not have any money.” Yet, most of the time those giving these answers DO have the time to watch their favorite television show and DO have the money to indulge themselves at a nice restaurant, show or sporting event.

The concept of ownership is a convenience, and there is some value to it in life. But the 1% of legitimate ownership we might feel gives way to the 99% of ownership we feel, that springs from pride, or greed. When we covet, we want what others have, and we recognize that it might be wrong. But when we cling to tightly to something as ours by an inalienable right, we often fall into a trap as sinful as coveting.

In this passage by C. S. Lewis, from “The Screwtape Letters”, Screwtape outlines one of the most damaging forms of greed: The sense that our time is ours alone, and when it is spent in a way that does not gratify us, something is being taken from us wrongfully:

Screwtape Outlines a Fundamental Deception:

“Men are not angered by mere misfortune but by misfortune conceived as injury. And the sense of injury depends on the feeling that a legitimate claim has been denied. The more claims on life, therefore, that your patient can be induced to make, the more often he will feel injured and, as a result, ill-tempered.

Now you will have noticed that nothing throws him into a passion so easily as to find a tract of time which he reckoned on having at his own disposal unexpectedly taken from him. It is the unexpected visitor (when he looked forward to a quiet evening), or the friend’s talkative wife (turning up when he looked forward to a tête-à-tête with the friend), that throw him out of gear.

Now he is not yet so uncharitable or slothful that these small demands on his courtesy are in themselves too much for it. They anger him because he regards his time as his own and feels that it is being stolen. You must therefore zealously guard in his mind the curious assumption ‘My time is my own’.

Let him have the feeling that he starts each day as the lawful possessor of twenty-four hours. Let him feel as a grievous tax that portion of this property which he has to make over to his employers, and as a generous donation that further portion which he allows to religious duties. But what he must never be permitted to doubt is that the total from which these deductions have been made was, in some mysterious sense, his own personal birthright.”

Lord, let me not be greedy of my time, for it is a gift from you. Amen.

In Jesus,
Cap'n Kenny


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Scripture taken from the English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Devotion shared by Mason Barge, Editor, Daily Prayer
When asked to help, the two most common responses are always...

The Souvenirs Of Sin

The Souvenirs Of Sin



If you grew up on a farm, there's probably a dog in your memories. For my farm girl, Karen, that dog was a Collie cattle dog named King. King was great at rounding up her Dad's cattle. All Dad would have to do was to whistle that certain whistle, and King would start circling and circling those cattle until he herded them in. But there was a problem. One day a chicken got out, and King killed that chicken-which gave that valuable dog the taste of blood. They tell me if you can't cure that in a dog, you can't afford to keep that dog. The dog either has to be killed or disciplined so he'll never forget. So Dad took that dead chicken (now, get this) tied its legs around King's neck with some twine. Needless to say, this dog tried everything to shake that dead chicken, but as the day wore on, the bird he killed did not improve with age. No, by the end of the day, King's head and tail were hanging very low. Look, it's a painful way to learn the seriousness of what he had done, but not nearly as painful as the alternative.

I'm Ron Hutchcraft and I want to have A Word With You today about "The Souvenirs of Sin."

If you have to carry some of the consequences of what you've done wrong, it can be powerful incentive not to do it again-which can save you from consequences that will be far worse. Now that's why God sometimes allows you and me to experience some unpleasant results of our sin. It's not that He didn't forgive us or that He doesn't love us. It's actually because He does.

God had great plans for Jacob-among other things, he would father the fathers of twelve tribes of Israel. But all his life this stubborn, self-willed, survival-oriented man had been wrestling with God for the control of his life. And then came the final wrestling match. Our word for today from the Word of God, Genesis 32:24, "Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob's hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man."

Eventually, Jacob realizes who he's been wrestling with that night-and all these years. The Bible says, "Jacob called the place Peniel, saying, 'It is because I saw God face to face, and yet my life was spared...He was limping (the Bible says) because of his hip" (Genesis 32:30-31). As far as we know, Jacob walked with a painful limp for the rest of his life. Was he right with God? Well, he asked for God's blessing that night, and God changed his name from Jacob, the cheat-to Israel, which means prince with God.

But even though it seems Jacob had made his peace with God, he was like that Collie, King. In essence, he carried the dead chicken around with him the rest of his life to remind him of how much it hurts to be self-willed and stubborn and manipulative. It wasn't that my father-in-law didn't value that dog of his-he did value the dog. That's why he made him live with those consequences, because the alternative was destruction.

That may be why God has allowed you to continue to experience some of the scars and pain and consequences of your sin. If you have brought that sin to Jesus' cross in true repentance, God promises He will "remember that sin no more" (Hebrews 8:12). Isn't that awesome? You are forgiven, you are clean, your sin is forever covered by the blood that Jesus shed for it. But God doesn't ever want you to go back where you were. So maybe today there are still the memories, the regrets, some of the brokenness, those scars. God has left you with that aftermath so you will be protected by those consequences from ever doing it again. You won't forget how much it hurts. You won't forget how much it costs.

It's another dimension of that same grace that forgave you and cleansed you. It's God's keeping grace; enough pain from the past to keep you from ever going back to what would destroy you. Sometimes God in His grace saves us from the consequences of our sin and sometimes He leaves the consequences there. Either way, it's His love.

Un Dia a la Vez - Padres con hijos especiales

Padres con hijos especiales

Yo proclamaré el decreto del Señor: «Tú eres mi hijo», me ha dicho; «hoy mismo te he engendrado.

~ Salmo 2:7, NVI

Este devocional tiene la petición de una oyente que me habló de sus tres hermosos hijos de los que una era especial, pues tiene retraso mental. Además, me comentó que en la radio, y en general, casi nunca hablamos de la lucha que tienen los padres, ni de los momentos tan difíciles por los que tienen que pasar, sin contar los sacrificios, las tristezas y el dolor.

Si este es tu caso, quiero decirte que eres privilegiado, porque Dios desde la eternidad sabía que podía contar contigo para que criaras ese hijo especial que tanto amas. Así que tienes esa cualidad tan necesaria, que otros no poseen, para este tipo de crianza.

En este día quiero levantar tus brazos cansados y decirte que en cada noche sin dormir Dios ha estado contigo. Él ha secado tus lágrimas y ha sido el que te ha dado la fortaleza cuando pensaste que no podrías con esa situación en tu vida.

No te desesperes. Piensa que todo lo que hagas por ese hijo vale la pena y que Dios desde el cielo te recompensará.

No te rindas. Recuerda que aunque esa princesa no se comporte como las demás o ese príncipe tenga dificultades en su desarrollo, es también un hijo de Dios y Él lo guardará y cuidará.

Por más fuerte que sea esta prueba, mi consejo es que nunca juzgues a Dios, pues Él es soberano.

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - October 05, 2017

GOD’S AMAZING GRACE

And now, my daughter, don’t be afraid. I will do for you all you ask. All the people of my town know that you are a woman of noble character.

~ Ruth 3:11 (NIV)

When I think of God’s grace in an individual’s life, the story of Ruth comes to mind. And not just because Ruth was the name of my own dear mother. Ruth from the Bible was a widowed but faithful daughter-in-law whom God in His grace blessed with a new country, new husband and family. She is one of the few women (and a Gentile at that) mentioned in Matthew’s genealogy of Jesus.

God’s grace is also the key principle in so many people’s faith stories. My co-teacher in Standing Strong Through the Storm (SSTS) seminars, Jim Cunningham, was teaching in Sri Lanka and learned first-hand of this amazing example. Names used are not their real names.

Arjuna, a young married man with a family, was part of a team of Christians running an orphanage in a rural village of Sri Lanka. One of the girls from the orphanage was sexually abused by a boy in the village. The police investigated and she identified the boy. The police then arrested the boy.

But the villagers rose-up-in-arms saying Arjuna sexually assaulted the girl and she just blamed the village boy to protect Arjuna. The villagers found and forced another girl to say she too was assaulted by Arjuna.

Arjuna was ultimately sentenced to fifteen years in jail where he subsequently led a number of other prisoners to Christ. One of those men who accepted Christ was Menika. After his release from prison, Menika went to seminary and became a church-planting pastor in a small rural town of Sri Lanka.

Arjuna continued in his prison ministry. He led another criminal to Christ who had committed a capital offence and was on death row. His name was Chandra. Before he was put to death, Chandra said to Arjuna, “I’d like to give the deed to my house to someone in ministry...” It just so happened Chandra’s house was in the same small rural town where Menika was beginning to plant a church.

Chandra gave his house to the “church-planting” former prisoner, Menika, redeemed by God’s grace through Arjuna’s being falsely accused and sent to prison. Amazing grace!

After six and a half years Arjuna was released from prison but because of the false charge against him was unable to work with children. He now has an ongoing ministry in the prisons of Sri Lanka.

Jim said to me, “This is not how most of us would have written the script, but—as in the life of Ruth—I rejoice in God’s amazing grace and provision for all involved!”

RESPONSE: I will praise God today for His amazing grace and provision in these lives mentioned and in my own life.

PRAYER: Thank You Lord that Your amazing grace is so real, so available and so free.

NIV Devotions for Men - October 05, 2017

Job’s Performance Review 

Job 22:1–30
Recommended Reading: Numbers 16:3; Proverbs 6:16–19; 2 Corinthians 8:20–21

Former hockey goalie Jacques Plante once quipped, “How would you like a job where, if you make a mistake, a big red light goes on and eighteen thousand people boo?”

Job didn’t face eighteen thousand booing people. Just a few so-called friends who made false accusations about his performance as a righteous man. Eliphaz started his attack on Job by criticizing his supposed lack of holiness. He accused Job of withholding water from the thirsty, keeping food from the hungry and turning away widows. Eliphaz claimed that Job’s problems stemmed from his wicked heart.

However, Eliphaz’s criticism was unfounded. God wouldn’t have made Job the poster child of righteousness if he’d really committed such horrible acts.

We all deal with criticism. But how we respond to it often determines how we feel about ourselves. Most of us respond in one of three ways: (1) We deny the accusation; (2) we become defensive and feel victimized; or (3) we look for what might be true about the criticism and weed out what’s not true.

Quite often critics just want to help solve problems—they’re not out to get the person they’re evaluating. If someone’s criticism carries a seed of truth, we need to acknowledge our mistakes and make corrections in that area of life. By doing this, we honor the critic’s judgment. And we show a willingness to take responsibility without feeling victimized.

However, some critics use words to degrade and control others. We don’t have to let them make our lives miserable. Job allowed Eliphaz to vent, but Job didn’t let the criticism define him. He was secure in the integrity of his actions, and that allowed him to deflect unfounded criticism.

Poet and essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson once said, “Criticism should not be querulous and wasting, all knife and root-puller, but guiding, instructive, inspiring.” False criticism never needs to define your self-worth. If someone throws an unjust accusation your way, don’t let it get under your skin. Look past it and move on. But if a critic’s words ring true, use them to make yourself a better person.

To Take Away

• How do you handle criticism?
• How does pride affect the way you respond to criticism?
• Would you describe your words of criticism toward others as cutting and destructive or as guiding, instructive and inspiring?

Girlfriends in God - October 05, 2017

Revisiting The No Gossip Zone

Sharon Jaynes

Today’s Truth

Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down.

~  Proverbs 26:20 (NIV)

Friend to Friend

In my last devotion I talked about gossip. Something tells me I need to talk about it again.

As a review, Webster defines gossip as ”easy, fluent, trivial talk, talk about people behind their backs.” It is repeating information about another person’s private affairs. If you have to look around to make sure that no one can hear what you are saying, you are probably gossiping. If you would not say something in front of the person you are talking about, then you’re probably gossiping.

But it takes two to tango the gossip dance. “Without wood a fire goes out; without gossip a quarrel dies down: (Proverbs 26:20). The Bible tells us to make every effort to avoid gossipers (Proverbs 20:19). A good rule of thumb is if you are not part of the problem or part of the solution, then keep the information to yourself.

Paul warned, “Some of you are living idle lives, refusing to work and wasting time meddling in other people’s business,” (2 Thessalonians 3:11 NLT). Other translations call such people “busybodies,” (NASB, NIV). And listen, putting the words, “we need to pray for so-and-so” before the gossip doesn’t make the gossip any less gossip.

One day a woman felt overwhelmed with guilt over her years of malicious gossip. She went to the local priest and confessed her sin. The priest was all too aware of her wagging tongue and had experienced the sting of her words first hand….or rather second hand.

What can I do to rectify all the damage I have caused with my gossip?” she asked.

“Gather a bag of feathers,” he began. “Then go around to each house and place a feather at their door.”

That seemed like a simple enough request, so the woman did just as the priest had instructed.  After the task was complete, she returned. “I have done what you requested,” she said. “Now what am I to do?”

“Now go back and retrieve each of the feathers,” he replied.

“That is impossible,” the woman argued. “The wind will have blown them all around town by now.”

“Exactly,” replied the wise priest. “Once you have spoken an ill word, it drifts through the air on wings of gossip, never to be retrieved. God has forgiven you, as you have asked. But I cannot remove the consequences of your hurtful words or gather them from the places they have landed.”

Here’s an idea. If a friend approaches you with some “news” or a “concern” about another person, stop and ask, “May I quote you on what you’re about to tell me?” That will usually “put a lid” on the conversation before it even begins.

In my last devotion, I asked if you would be willing to make your life a NO GOSSIP ZONE. I just thought we might need to ask that question one more time. (I love you! Don’t be mad at me!)

If you are willing to take the challenge, click over to my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/sharonjaynes and type in the words: “I’m still living in a NO GOSSIP ZONE.

Let’s Pray

OK Lord, I’m coming to You with this request again. Please help me not to gossip. Help me not to repeat a matter that is none of my business. If I’m not part of the problem or part of the solution, help me to keep my lips zipped. May the words of my mouth be pleasing in Your sight!
In Jesus’ Name,
Amen.

Now It’s Your Turn

Since my last devotion on gossip, have you been more aware of the words coming out of your mouth?

Have you begun a story, only to stop before it actually came out of your mouth? I have! Praise God!

Consider writing this verse on an index card and taping it to your bathroom mirror.

“May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” Psalm 19:14

More from the Girlfriends

Today’s devotion was taken from my book, The Power of a Woman’s Words. If you would like to learn about how to control your words and use them to speak life into those around you, then this is the book for you. Visit www.sharonjaynes.com to download a free chapter or watch a video. It also has a companion Bible Study Guide and DVD.

Seeking God?

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