Originally posted on Friday, November 13, 2009
I had an experience recently, that made me feel as though I was rotting from the inside. I've been working on checking my thoughts, and words, and reactions to others. I've prayed about this. I've attempted to be on my guard.
I learned a long time ago to recognize harmful behaviors on the part of other professing believers. It is always easier to see others' faults before our own. Perhaps that is good. It's how we learn to recognize gossip, bitterness, envy, strife.
But now that you can see it in others, the next step is to turn it back on yourself.
Back to my recent experience . . . I was with a group of other Christians, and in the course of the discussion someone shared some troubles that he had been going through. But in doing so, I found myself thinking that this person was making more out of it than was merited. Another comment was offered, where we learned that someone in our group was about to make a lot more money than I am, for the same type of work. I became angry, envious. I got quiet in this group of dear friends.
But I tried to notice what was going on in myself. And the more I thought about it, prayed inwardly about it, the more rotten I felt.
Out of such innocent beginnings, is laid the seeds of discord and division.
Come on, people! Aren't you tired of your envy, your hate, your gossip? Haven't you had it with conversations among "Christians," that are full of poison directed at others?
Can you go into a Christian setting, and last even a half hour, without hearing something hurtful said about, or to, another person?
Do you belong to a mostly Christian family, where conversation at family events always morphs into gripe sessions? Do you ever drop your defenses enough, for it to make you sick?
What does God think when He observes such behavior?
Don't gripe about each other, brothers and sisters, so you won't face judgement for it.
We have prayer campaigns. We fast. We give up things for Lent.
How about covenanting with one another, to stop our griping, our complaining, our gossiping, our backbiting, our envy and jealousy? Let's hold each other accountable. Can we go a day, or even an hour, without saying something negative about another?
And I am counting teasing little taunts (all in fun) as negative! How about warm, uplifting words that make others feel good?
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