UNTAMED! |
This life is filled with suffering and people from all walks of life have experienced and will continue to experience some form of it until the day they die. That's life! Ce la vie? Que sera, sera? Not exactly. Yes, it's true sorrow and pain will always be a portion of the human existence-but the why and the how are what matters most. Are we responsible for any of it?
In general, man's selfishness causes the majority of the problems. We want what we want when we want it. And often we don't care how we get it. That's why some children raised without discipline or boundaries end up behind bars or worse. Many are "lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God". And it certainly doesn't help when we've been told by society that we came from monkeys instead of a living, all-powerful Creator named Jesus who loved us enough to die for us.
Our conscience will let us know if we're suffering because of something we've done. But we can override and ignore it. Then we may decide to place the blame on someone else. Yes-play the blame game. "I wouldn't have done that if you hadn't________!" "If you hadn't been so _______ I wouldn't have said that!" "If you could be more_________ then I wouldn't be so mad!" Using the poisonous weapon called 'the tongue', we have wounded family, friends, and strangers along the road of life. And we've been victims of such attacks too. If we deserve it then we should repent and ask forgiveness. But if we're being persecuted for the name of Jesus then we are called to commit ourselves to the righteous Judge.
REVILE: criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.
synonyms: criticize · censure · condemn · attack · rail against · lambaste · flay · savage · brand · stigmatize · denounce · blacken someone's reputation · defame · smear · slander · libel · traduce · cast aspersions on · cast a slur on · malign · vilify · calumniate · besmirch · run down · abuse ·· bad-mouth ·monster · pummel · vituperate against · excoriate
But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.
9 Therewith bless we God, even the Father; and therewith curse we men, which are made after the similitude of God.
10 Out of the same mouth proceedeth blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not so to be..James 3:8-10 kjv
And yet...as Christians who've been forgiven of all past reviling, we are still tempted to yield our lips to the enemy.
The carnal man can't control the tongue but the Spirit of the living Christ which lives within his children- is able and willing! By faith, if we submit our mind, soul, and body to him then we will have relinquished the poisonous power of our mouth to our Lord and Savior. Let's remember what he endured at the hands of evil men who rejected his love and truth.
And yet...as Christians who've been forgiven of all past reviling, we are still tempted to yield our lips to the enemy.
The carnal man can't control the tongue but the Spirit of the living Christ which lives within his children- is able and willing! By faith, if we submit our mind, soul, and body to him then we will have relinquished the poisonous power of our mouth to our Lord and Savior. Let's remember what he endured at the hands of evil men who rejected his love and truth.
15 And straightway in the morning the Chief Priests held a consultation with the elders and scribes and the whole council, and bound Jesus, and carried him away, and delivered him to Pilate.
2 And Pilate asked him, Art thou the King of the Jews? And he answering said unto them, Thou sayest it.
3 And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing.
4 And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee.
5 But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled.
6 Now at that feast he released unto them one prisoner, whomsoever they desired.
7 And there was one named Barabbas, which lay bound with them that had made insurrection with him, who had committed murder in the insurrection.
8 And the multitude crying aloud began to desire him to do as he had ever done unto them.
9 But Pilate answered them, saying, Will ye that I release unto you the King of the Jews?
10 For he knew that the chief priests had delivered him for envy.
11 But the chief priests moved the people, that he should rather release Barabbas unto them.
12 And Pilate answered and said again unto them, What will ye then that I shall do unto him whom ye call the King of the Jews?
13 And they cried out again, Crucify him.
14 Then Pilate said unto them, Why, what evil hath he done? And they cried out the more exceedingly, Crucify him.
15 And so Pilate, willing to content the people, released Barabbas unto them, and delivered Jesus, when he had scourged him, to be crucified.
16 And the soldiers led him away into the hall, called Praetorium; and they call together the whole band.
17 And they clothed him with purple, and platted a crown of thorns, and put it about his head,
18 And began to salute him, Hail, King of the Jews!
19 And they smote him on the head with a reed, and did spit upon him, and bowing their knees worshipped him.
20 And when they had mocked him, they took off the purple from him, and put his own clothes on him, and led him out to crucify him.
21 And they compel one Simon a Cyrenian, who passed by, coming out of the country, the father of Alexander and Rufus, to bear his cross.
22 And they bring him unto the place Golgotha, which is, being interpreted, The place of a skull.
23 And they gave him to drink wine mingled with myrrh: but he received it not.
24 And when they had crucified him, they parted his garments, casting lots upon them, what every man should take.
25 And it was the third hour, and they crucified him. Mark 15
21 For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps:
22 Who did no sin, neither was guile found in his mouth:
23 Who, when he was reviled, reviled not again; when he suffered, he threatened not; but committed himself to him that judgeth righteously:
24 Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. I Peter 2:21-24
