Words Can Be Poison In The Soul
2 Timothy 2:15-17 (MSG) "Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won't be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple. Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know. If they're not backed by a godly life, they accumulate as poison in the soul."
Well, I think this is pretty plain and simple - right to the point! We need to always be doing work that we won't be ashamed of. Work at our work-place, work at home, work at church, work in the community.... we are working for God after all, anywhere and everywhere!
The part that really jumped out at me today "Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know." Talk that is only talk - and then words are not mere words. That messed with me for a minute. Until I realized that our words can do several things all at the same time. In one set of ears, we can just be a blabber mouth, jibber-jabbing and not making any sense. Or talk that we are trying to be a know-it-all = pious talk. A lot of times, these conversations just fall on deaf ears. Especially if we make a habit of it - then ANY time we talk, we become like the father in the movie Big Fish. The son just didn't really listen to the things he said or talked about. THEN the other thing that happens when we talk: our words can actually lead someone astray. Our words are not just mere words - they have power to build up and to tear down. To draw others TO God and push them away. When we don't take into consideration who we are with and what we are saying - well, it is like pushing them in the opposite direction, away from God instead of drawing them closer. I fear I have done this myself too many times. I am truly sorry!! If or when we "preach" at someone, and they actually can see out lives and how we live - if we live the opposite of what we are 'telling' someone else to do or how to live and such - well, then it is actually like we are poisoning their soul!! What?!?!?! OUCH!!! And, it becomes poison to our soul too. Because we are pulling away from truth and God's will slowly but surly by living differently that we tell others to do.
How to "dilute" the poison? Well, first and foremost, by asking God to have the Holy Spirit reveal anything to us, that we need to confess to Him and behaviors or actions that we need to let go of. Praise God for having mercy and grace with us! Give Him acknowledgement of what you realize He has done in your life. Go through the ABC's with praises to Him if you need to. Then, as things pop into your head, confess them. Clean the slate. Thank God for allowing you to have a revelation from Him - then pray for His wisdom, guidance, and His way of doing work and talking. Will it be easy to change? For some, yes, perhaps. For most of us though, it will be a daily struggle and a constant letting go. But I believe in you!! I do!! You can do it! You CAN direct your work and talk to things that will bring healing, comfort, and life to others - it just takes practice. Have a GREAT day - be well, be blessed and be safe!
Well, I think this is pretty plain and simple - right to the point! We need to always be doing work that we won't be ashamed of. Work at our work-place, work at home, work at church, work in the community.... we are working for God after all, anywhere and everywhere!
The part that really jumped out at me today "Stay clear of pious talk that is only talk. Words are not mere words, you know." Talk that is only talk - and then words are not mere words. That messed with me for a minute. Until I realized that our words can do several things all at the same time. In one set of ears, we can just be a blabber mouth, jibber-jabbing and not making any sense. Or talk that we are trying to be a know-it-all = pious talk. A lot of times, these conversations just fall on deaf ears. Especially if we make a habit of it - then ANY time we talk, we become like the father in the movie Big Fish. The son just didn't really listen to the things he said or talked about. THEN the other thing that happens when we talk: our words can actually lead someone astray. Our words are not just mere words - they have power to build up and to tear down. To draw others TO God and push them away. When we don't take into consideration who we are with and what we are saying - well, it is like pushing them in the opposite direction, away from God instead of drawing them closer. I fear I have done this myself too many times. I am truly sorry!! If or when we "preach" at someone, and they actually can see out lives and how we live - if we live the opposite of what we are 'telling' someone else to do or how to live and such - well, then it is actually like we are poisoning their soul!! What?!?!?! OUCH!!! And, it becomes poison to our soul too. Because we are pulling away from truth and God's will slowly but surly by living differently that we tell others to do.
How to "dilute" the poison? Well, first and foremost, by asking God to have the Holy Spirit reveal anything to us, that we need to confess to Him and behaviors or actions that we need to let go of. Praise God for having mercy and grace with us! Give Him acknowledgement of what you realize He has done in your life. Go through the ABC's with praises to Him if you need to. Then, as things pop into your head, confess them. Clean the slate. Thank God for allowing you to have a revelation from Him - then pray for His wisdom, guidance, and His way of doing work and talking. Will it be easy to change? For some, yes, perhaps. For most of us though, it will be a daily struggle and a constant letting go. But I believe in you!! I do!! You can do it! You CAN direct your work and talk to things that will bring healing, comfort, and life to others - it just takes practice. Have a GREAT day - be well, be blessed and be safe!
Comments