Day #56

God, you are so merciful to give so many chances.  Thank you for letting us see Your character each day as we study the Bible.  Thank you for drawing near to us as we humble ourselves.  Please make us more like you and help us to know our part in that.

Read James 4:10-12.

Today’s verses are summing up what we have been learning for a few weeks.

Read James 4:10 once more.

It is the humble whom God will lift up.  If we continue to lift ourselves up so others will see us, our way, our talents, and our works… God will see us from a distance.  Along with this distance, comes discipline. 

Please read…

Matthew 23:12

Luke 1:52

Luke 14:11

Luke 18:9-14

1 Peter 5:6

Read James 4:11.

The misuse of our tongue to speak evil against others or to slander others is the result of an arrogant, boastful heart (James 3:5), self-centered desires (James 4:1,3), and pride (James 4:6).

Slander (definition) – Noun, The action or crime of making a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.  Verb, to make a false spoken statement damaging to a person's reputation.

The Old Testament and the New Testament speak very clearly about slander and evil spoken about others.

OT                                           NT

Leviticus 19:16, 18                Romans 1:30     

Psalm 50:20                           2 Corinthians 12:20

Jeremiah 6:28                        1 Peter 2:1

So what about us?  Do we slander?  Do we speak evil of others?  No, no.  Not us.  We just tell the truth, right?  Guess what?  When you pass along any damaging information that you don’t know first-hand (directly from the person being spoken about) you could be contributing to slander.  This is why James speaks so much about the tongue and the world of evil that can come from the misuse of it.

Leviticus 19:18 says, “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”  Well, who is my neighbor?  Read the story Jesus told behind who your neighbor is in John 10:25-37. 

John 10:25-37 explains that your neighbor is everyone.  Does this mean just neighbors you like or are nice to you?  Or does this mean everyone, everyone?  Oh no, you mean even people I don’t like… people who have done wrong to me, who annoy me, who need to be knocked down a few notches (BTW- are you the judge)?  You mean even if everyone does not like them, I still have to treat them with God’s kindness and love?  YES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    

NOTE: Be so careful in determining who deserves God’s love and who does not.  This is where you step into the judge’s seat.  The very things you point your finger at, are the very things you have done.  Do you want that same judgment on yourself?

TARGET of the DAY

When others tell you the latest news, how do you use the information you have been given?  Do you quickly share it?  For what reason do you share it?  These are questions only you can answer.  For some of us, if we don’t talk about others, there would be nothing for us to say.  This should be a red flag for us.  This is a sign of arrogance, boastfulness, selfish-desires, and pride within your heart.  Talk about this with God and ask Him for guidance and HUMBLE yourself.  

BTW- Dare to stop a downhill conversation in it's tracks.  When the latest news comes within your grasp, say "Don't tell me, I'm addicted to the latest news and I am trying to get straight."  LOL.  

BTW2- If this is agonizing for you, there definitely is an addiction.