Bible Ballistics: BBs #193 Because LIFE Matters!!!

My message today is a follow up to the article on Wednesday, and while it’s for all of us, it is especially a call to fellow believers in Jesus. May we all realize we have an impact on others, often others we’re not even aware of? People who are watching how we live—the teller at the bank, the waiter/waitress at the cafe, the clerk at the grocery store, the worker who we ask for assistance, the salesperson who calls us on the phone, or approaches us at the mall. What do they see in us? Because LIFE does matter, we need to show other individuals that they matter to us—to You and Me. What a difference we could make—TODAY!!!

“Let him that stole steal no more:

but rather let him labour,

working with his hands

the thing which is good,

that he may have to give

to him that needeth.

29 Let no corrupt communication

proceed out of your mouth,

but that which is good

to the use of edifying,

that it may minister grace

unto the hearers.

30 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God,

whereby ye are sealed

unto the day of redemption.

31 Let all bitterness,

and wrath,

and anger,

and clamour,

and evil speaking,

be put away from you,

with all malice:  

32 And be ye kind one to another,

tenderhearted,

forgiving one another,

even as God

for Christ’s sake

hath forgiven you.” Ephesians 4:28-32

A pretty tall order, but this should be our standard, if we claim to be following Jesus Christ The Lord of Glory!!! His glory should be seen in our behavior!! And I’ll go even further and remind us all that this applies to “print” also. What we write, and post, and share and comment on in the “social media” arena is just as important as what we say and do in person!!! OH NO!!! Do your mean I have to watch what I say and share on the “social media” outlets!!! YES! That IS exactly what I mean. What we say DOES matter, because the lives that we affect matter, and we are accountable!

“A good man out of the good treasure of the heart

bringeth forth good things:

and an evil man out of the evil treasure

bringeth forth evil things.

36 But I say unto you,

That every idle word that men shall speak,

they shall give account thereof

in the day of judgment.

37 For by thy words thou shalt be justified,

and by thy words thou shalt be condemned.”   Matthew 12:25-27

Our words are the evidence of what is in our hearts. Yes we all have moments when we miss the mark, when we are tired or upset or just plain not paying attention, and we say or do something that is not normal to our usual character. But if our life is marked by continuous unkindness, there may be a problem. And Jesus makes it clear for us that the source for our behavior is not the ‘mouth’, but the HEART!

“Do not ye yet understand, that whatsoever entereth in at the mouth goeth into the belly, and is cast out into the draught? 18 But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man.

19 For out of the heart proceed

evil thoughts,

murders,

adulteries,

fornications,

thefts,

false witness,

blasphemies:

20 These are the things which defile a man: but to eat with unwashen hands defileth not a man.” Matthew 15:17-20

In our vernacular, “What’s inside will come out”. And what comes out reveals what is inside. What do you get when you squeeze a lemon? What ever is inside—usually lemon juice!!! What is inside of us will show before the world. If it’s Jesus—IT WILL SHOW!! And transversely as true if HE is not inside—that WILL SHOW as well!!! As I’m often known to say, “Saying so, doesn’t make is so!”

So??? Here’s our shot for today!

Do people see Jesus in me?

Am I ‘being kind’ to others that they may see Jesus in me?

Or am I treating others with disregard, and unkindness

and therefore declaring to others that “life” doesn’t really matter.

Are we saying to others, “Only MY LIFE matters”?

“You have no import, nor are you worthy of my regard”?

May it be said of ME and YOU as of the ‘virtuous woman” of Proverbs 31:

“She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Proverbs 31:26

 

Have a kindly day—by being KIND today!!!