| Good morning everyone, Our theme for this month: “Christian community” Our Bible verse for today: “From the fruit of a person’s mouth his stomach is satisfied; he is filled with the product of his lips. Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Proverbs 18:20-21 (CSB) Our thought for today: “Instant Karma’s gonna get you” “Karma” is usually understood to be a Hindu and Buddhist concept. “Instant Karma” was the title of an old John Lennon song that was intended to convey in a humorous but snarky way that what you do to others will come back on you and in the end (sometimes instantly) you get what you deserve. But that concept is also Biblical and it’s what Solomon was referring to in Proverbs 18:20-21 with respect to how we use language. There he notes that the words that come out of a person’s mouth have a positive or negative influence, not just on the person or persons hearing those words, but also on the person speaking them. Let me requote those verses as rendered in the Amplified Bible: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue, and those who love it and indulge it will eat its fruit and bear the consequences of their words.” In yesterday’s devotional we considered the truth from Proverbs 16:24 that words of blessing and encouragement can build others up and have a positive impact on them physically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually. That is true. But as Solomon makes clear here in Proverbs 18:20-21, words can be either positive or negative – they can speak death or life. And those words have their effect on both the ones hearing them, and on the person speaking them. The fact is that we make ourselves feel better or worse by the words we speak to others. So, if you aren’t motivated to speak words of life (words of blessing and encouragement) to others for their sake and for their good, then you should be motivated to do so for your own sake and for your own good. You yourself will feel better or worse based upon the nature of the words you speak to others. This is an important issue when it comes to safeguarding our Christian community. You and others will be feeling better or worse based upon the nature of the words that come out of your mouth. It’s not just others who are impacted by your words. You are too. And so, as Solomon and John Lennon have both warned us, “Watch out! Instant karma’s gonna get you!” God bless, Pastor Jim (Join us at Oak Hill Baptist Church every Sunday at 10:00. Join us in-person if you are nearby or, if you are geographically distant or if you are a shut-in, join us online at http://www.YouTube.com/oakhillbaptistcrossville) |
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