Tuesday, December 24, 2013
Saying Something Good
Growing up my parents used to always tell me, “If you can’t say something good about someone, don’t say anything at all.” Turns out it was pretty good advice. That is why there are certain subjects I have little or nothing to say about, like politics, my singing, etc. Unfortunately if we are not careful, it can be easy to be drawn into discussions about events in other people’s lives, or even the people themselves. I agree that it is important to find a scriptural basis for the “wisdom” we learn growing up because many times things are attributed to the bible which just do not appear in the bible. As it turns out, this one does, or at least it does pretty closely.
Ephesians 5:11 And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them.
12 For it is a shame even to speak of those things which are done of them in secret.
Here Paul is writing to the Ephesians from prison. He is telling them that he understands that people came from darkness, from places where they were doing some pretty raunchy stuff, before they became believers. He is encouraging them to resist and stay away from such behavior now that they have turned to God because it is shameful to even speak about those things. But I think there is an additional message here. We are not to speak about the negative in anyone’s life, inside or outside of the body of believers. If you think about it, that really makes sense, right? After all we are to be building each other up. How can talking about the bad in someone’s life build them or us up? When we go down that road, even if we think we are “sharing” with someone so they can pray, we are really not helping anyone. Here is something I have tried to begin to practice, and have had some results.
The next time someone asks you to pray for someone, pray that prayer with that person right then. I recently did this with someone and saw a miracle within minutes of God supplying someone’s need. Let’s spend our time in the positive building up our fellow believers and give no place to the negatives. Sound good?
Prayer
Father, we praise You as the Most High God. Thank You for all you have done for us in our lives. We ask today Father that You help us to pray and speak positive things about each other. Please bring to our remembrance those in need, whether that is for healing, deliverance, provision, or whatever else. Help us to reach out today to those in need and help them feel welcome and cared about, as Your people on this earth. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.