JoAnn's Spiritual Lessons

Our mouths were meant to edify and praise; ROMANS 14:19, Proverbs 12:15-22, 1Timothy 2:24/25, Ephesians 4:24/25, Ephesians 4:15/16, Isaiah 11:24.


Romans 14:19
"Therefore let us pursue the things which make for peace and the things by which one may edify another."
NKJV

Have you ever seen two kids building sandcastles together in the sand? Typically, one likes to build while the other one comes by and stomps it, especially if they are siblings. One builds up and the other takes joy in tearing down. Why? Mostly, it is for the reaction. Christians can do this as well. Worship music, food and dress... all of these are minor issues that many love to argue. What does it do? It distracts from the Gospel.

Doing things just to offend or argue is wrong. God is at work in our lives at different speeds and at different times. "I get it, why don't you get it?" That is a prideful statement. It is quite probable that another brother or sister "get's it" in other ways better than you do. That is how it works. We fit together and cause each other to grow. Serving in church but being prideful and snooty about it does not interest God. The church is made of individual people with individual gifts, and no one person is the whole church. We should build one another up and in turn, we will be encouraged as well. What if the church, at large, really did Romans 14:19? Let's start and see.

Life Lesson: We should encourage others.

Dear Father,
Thank You for loving me. Thank You for the many individual gifts that make up the body of Christ. Lord, help me to put off disagreements and value others. Forgive me when I have caused division and strife. Give me the spirit to be a blessing to someone else today. In Jesus' name, Amen.

Living to tell what He died to say,
Pastor David McGee

My comments: The tongue can and is an organ that can edify or cut to pieces. We can give loving and truthful counsel (which some versions of the Bible in the Proverbs 12:15-22 calls advice) or the tongue can be full of lies, rash words and be like a sword thrusting into the soul of the person it is aimed at. It can build up or tear down.

I am not sure who this quote is by yet it has bearing on this subject. “Love without truth is not love, and truth without love is not truth.” (Ephesians 4:15/16)  It does not matter if we are Pastors (2 Timothy 2:24/25), parishioners, family members or strangers to one another; what we do with our mouth matters yet it is a hard organ to control and if we want to, we can. If it is our goal to control it we will (Ephesians 4:24/25). If we cannot or will not control it then the Lord Jesus will take us to account for not only what we do but also, for what we say. If we have fear of the Lord we will seek the Spirit of Counsel and Might, Wisdom and Understanding (Isaiah 11:2/3) to help us to overcome our lack of self control with our mouth and our tongue which can destroy or build up another not by lying to the person but by gently guiding them to the truth with love.

Christ often gave truth and He did it lovingly yet with truth like the time He complimented Peter on knowing the truth from the Father yet later when Peter told Him, He was not to die on a Cross the Lord said, “Get thee behind me Satan.” We do not accept nor give untruths as that is not a loving act. When the women at the well said she had not a husband (yet was living with a man) Christ said she told the truth. He did not say, “Well, I know how hard it is to be a women on your own and trying to get by.” No, He acknowledged she was living with someone who she was not married to. He also, did not rub her nose in it yet sought to elevate her by offering the living water (Himself) to her. We can do no less.

Abba may we always seek Your wisdom, understanding, counsel and knowledge with fear and delight in Your righteousness. Help us Father to control our tongues and to turn to You and ask what You would have us to speak and if we do not hear from You may we learn to keep our own counsel to ourselves. May we speak in love and truth and rely on Your Words always. Keep us from speaking harshly to others or about others, especially our loved ones and those in the body. Fill us with Your Holy Spirit Lord and give us Your love in our hearts and on our tongues. Thank You Father for granting us this fruit that we will bring blessings to others and rivers of Living Waters with our tongues. Amen

Rebishka