In the Book of Proverbs we are warned of seven things that
GOD hates and among them are, a person who sows discord in a family. Proverbs 6: 16-19
GOD hates gossip.
Gossip destroys.
Gossip dishonors others.
Gossip dishonors God.
A child of God avoids gossip.
The Bible uses several different terms for gossips including
backbiter,
busybody, slanderer, whisperer and talebearer – and all have an
overtone of malice. God is clear in His Word that gossips are ungodly and
wicked, and that gossiping is sin which has no part in God’s Kingdom.
As Christ’s ambassadors in the Earth, our actions and speech
must be a direct reflection of God the Father and God the Son. “…whatever you do
or say, do it as a representative of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through him
to God the Father. Colossians 3:17
In his Epistle James, the brother of Jesus, compares the
tongue to a tiny fire spark capable of setting
a great forest on fire…he describes the tongue as restless and evil, full of deadly poison. Not a very pretty picture,
but if we could control our tongues, we
would be perfect and could also control ourselves in every other way.” James 3: 1-12
GOD the Father wants His children to thrive in His Kingdom
and He will help us to change any behavior that does not conform to His will or
glorify His Name.
Gossiping is a bad habit that exposes the condition of our
hearts – whatever is in our hearts determines what we say. GOD’s WORD cautions
us to Guard your heart above all else,
for it determines the course of your life. Philippians
4:23.
Our Father is especially grieved when
we gossip against another child of God, a brother or sister for whom Christ
died. He wants us to live in unity with Him and each other, to love like
family, to encourage and build each other up, and not tear down and devour each
other by ill-speaking.
We ask God to change our hearts as we take responsibility to change our habits.
As we pray in faith and seek God’s strength to refrain from
gossip we also take action and apply some practical steps to wean ourselves
away from gossips and the temptation to gossip.
- We stop associating with people who are known gossips - Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers…Psalm 1:1
- When others try to engage us in gossip we refuse to listen, change the subject, or walk away – Hate what is wrong. Hold tightly to what is good. Romans 12:9
If we are the victim of gossip we don’t retaliate in kind
but instead we confront the offender and let them know how they have injured
us. If the gossip is a child of God we especially attempt to reconcile and help
that person to change the behavior, if we can… if another believer is overcome by some sin, you who are
godly should gently and humbly help that person back onto the right path. Galatians 6:1
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires
of their sinful nature to his cross and crucified them there. Since we are living by the
Spirit, let us follow the Spirit’s leading in every part of our lives. Let
us not become conceited, or provoke one another, or be jealous of one another.
Galatians 5:24-25
Prayer and Thanksgiving: Holy Father, how good and faithful YOU are! Thank YOU
that we are not consumed because of our wrong doing. We know that a sin against
one of your little ones is a sin against YOU and we thank YOU for mercy, that YOU
don’t judge us as we deserve. Cleanse our hearts of bitterness, jealously and
boasting, for it is out of the abundance of our hearts that our mouths speak.
Teach us to walk in love which covers a multitude of sin and cause us to protect
our brothers and sisters and not expose them to ridicule. Forgive us and let
the words of our mouths and the meditation of our hearts be acceptable in YOUR
sight always. To YOU belong all dominion and power for ever and ever. We pray
and ask all things in the NAME above all names, JESUS CHRIST, our LORD. Amen.
Always by God’s Word and prayer,
Cecile
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