A few moments of peace, to steady the mind soul and spirit
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Proverbs 15:1
A gentle answer turns away wrath,
but a harsh word stirs up anger. TLV
These have been some difficult teachings, the past few days. They have moved the clock in reverse, and opened up raw places within the soul. And yet, in order to Teshuvah (turn back, return) we have to know what we are returning from, and how to remain on our mark when we return.
Proverbs 26:11 tells us:
As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his foolishness.
Do we seriously want to return to the vomit of hurting others with harsh words, derogatory statements, sexual immorality, and rejection of truth? We have already been warned about the dire consequences of sucking the life out of a person with our boundaryless tongues.
So now we have to face the fact that we are all sinners, and we need consistent and continual counsel from Spirit of Truth. We have to throw down the idols in our lives, and seek our higher calling in Christ Jesus.
I can't imagine anyone wanting to cause another person to stumble in their spiritual life due to a harsh tongue. We are to build people up with those tongues instead.
"Verbal abuse of someone is as much an evil sin as physical abuse" MB
Physical abuse is visible on the outside of the body, and eventualy heals, for the most part, except for the painful memories left behind in the scars. Verbal abuse runs a never-ending winding course throughout the mind and soul. It can be, and has been a death sentence for many people, especially children who have been bullied by their peers, or people they love and trust, often resulting in the final blow to their souls and bodies .. suicide. Harsh words begin in childhood, and continue into adulthood, if we do not take the reins and re-direct this wayward foe.
"Negative speech can be worse than a sword. It can kill a person, even at great distance" MB
James 1:26 TLV states: If anyone thinks he is religious and yet does not bridle his tongue, but deceives his heart, this person’s religion is futile. (emphasis mine) That verse must be taken very seriously. There is no flexibility in these words. Futile is futile.
James 3:6 TLV admonishes "the tongue is a fire. The tongue is a world of evil placed among our body parts. It pollutes the whole body and sets on fire the course of life—and is set on fire by Gehenna" (Gehenna is hell)
Moral of this teaching is:
To remain under the protection of YHWH Elohim, we had better harness our tongues, or we are no better off than the demons of hell.
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Forgive us, Father. We have fallen, and how great that fall has been. Show us how we can undo the damage we have caused to our fellow pilgrims, if possible, and guide us down the path of Life, from this day forward.
