Thur. Jan 22
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"KEEP YOUR TONGUE FROM EVIL." (PSALM 34:13 NIV)
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Cutting off ears
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When Jesus was betrayed by Judas, He just stood there, even though He could have called twelve legions of angels to His defense. Then the mob came, laid hands on Him and arrested Him. Peter, ready to defend Jesus, drew his sword and cut off the High Priest's servant's ear. Impulsive, quick-on-the-draw Peter was thinking, "We don't have to take this!" But Jesus said, "No, that's not how you handle things!" Then, "he touched the man's ear and healed him" (Lk 22:51 NIV). Peter was talking when he needed to be listening, and doing things when he didn't need to be doing them. He needed to learn how to wait on God, to exercise humility and discernment. God had great plans for Peter, but if he wanted to reach people for Christ he couldn't do it by taking out his sword and chopping off ears when he felt angry. There's a lesson here.
...........Our abrasive words can cut off people's ability to hear. We can't just fly off the handle whenever we feel like it. We must be sensitive to God: If He tells us, "Say nothing," we must stand there quietly, even if it means letting someone think they're right even when we know they're not. We must say, "Yes, Lord," and accept that He doesn't owe us an explanation. How many times do we prevent somebody's spiritual growth, or God's blessings from coming into our own lives, because we don't control what we say? Perhaps you think that compared to adultery or stealing this is no big deal? Think again: "He who guards his lips guards his life, but he who speaks rashly will come to ruin" (Pr 13:3 NIV).
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