11 - Nov

Before we take any action or even speak any word, let us pause and ask: “How will it feel if I am at the receiving end?” The rule is simple yet powerful: what you won’t take, don’t serve it to others.

By demanding the same thing of all people for atonement, God passed an important message to Israel that all souls are equal before Him.

God has always been mindful of the helpless in any society. When you make this your interest too, you are into pure religion. In other words, pure religion is not rhetoric; it is practical.

As a rule of thumb, all words must aim at edifying people. A few words spoken to lift people’s spirits are better than several thousand without purpose.

Perhaps, no mistreatment of God’s word is as bad as not obeying the message contained in it. Every word of God has a divine message to communicate. No word is ever given to tickle our fancy; it is to be obeyed.

A voluble person is likely going to fall into the danger of exaggeration, which is a sin. Then we learn that uncontrolled speech is a sign of folly. Finally, our text shows the danger of words said in anger. They diminish our ability to walk in the righteousness of God.

Irrespective of the one you refer to, all good gifts come from God the Father. The fact that in Him there is no variation or shadow of turning means He is not tired of giving. Therefore, we must never be tired of thanking Him.

The only way to avoid sin from taking over our lives is to stop feeding the lust that pops up now and then in the heart. When lust shows up, take a proactive step by praying and speaking out loud the word of God.

He refers to lusts. “but every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. (James 1:14 KJV). Lust is understood to mean a strong longing, especially for what is forbidden. Whenever you have a lust, temptation is not far-fetched.

There is a world of difference between tempt and test. The objective of one is a fall, that of the other is an assessment of our grasp of divine lessons. God does not tempt us; rather He makes a way of escape for us in all temptations.