Several years ago a very dear friend of mine and I had a discussion about today's Title verse. We also discussed how dangerous gossip about others is in any group let alone in the body of Christ. As a result of that conversation I wrote a satire on judgmental attitudes, unforgiveness, gossip and slander in the church. The name of it was Rebel Ram and Ego Ewe.
Two sheep who amuse themselves every Monday by discussing the latest gossip they picked up from the prayer requests that were mentioned in their Sunday school classes. Sadly some prayer requests are thinly veiled items of gossip the sheep want to spread.
Rebel and Ego, as their names reveal are very critical about the other sheep, they mock the way they dress, if one sheep shows up on Sunday morning wearing Jimmy Choos hoof covers, they judge them for spending all that money that could have been given to the benevolence fund!
They mock the sheep that speak up in Bible Study, while gossiping about the ones that never speak up! Their tongues speak death, gossip, and lies where ever they go. They are so unhappy in their own wool that they put every one down thinking that will make them feel better. But of course all that does is make them more miserable, you can't spew all of that hate and jealousy without it destroying you from within.
Fortunately for Rebel Ram and Ego Ewe they began reading God's Word and they saw themselves as they truly were, and they didn't like it! God's Word does that, it is a mirror that does not lie! James 1:23-24 says "For if you listen to the Word and don't obey, it is like glancing at your face in a mirror. You see yourself, walk away, and forget what you look like."
But Rebel and Ego listened to the Word, Romans 14:4; "Who are you to condemn someone else's servants? Their own master will judge whether they stand or fall. And with the Lord's help, they will stand and receive His approval." They were convicted by this Word and others and they repented and sought forgiveness.
These two sheep saw themselves and the Word of God transformed their minds. We are each one sinners, saved by the grace of God believing in the Lord Jesus Christ! And Christ is the only Judge and when He returns the second time He will judge the whole earth. We as His sheep are to love one another, build one another up, forgive each other, worship and serve God in unity!
We are to pray for one another, give to one another as each has a need and so fulfill the command of Jesus Christ. "This is My commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends. You are my friends if you do what I command." John 15:12-14.
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