Skip to main content

Withdrawn

I'm reading a novel about a murder trial. The lawyers frequently make outrageous speculations or badger the witnesses. The opposing counsel will shout "Objection!" often the judge will rule "sustained". The lawyer will then say "withdrawn". But the damage has already been done. You can't put the words back in your mouth or hit the rewind button and erase what a jury has heard. On television you will sometimes hear a judge say "the jury will disregard the remarks...." How do you disregard something that has already made an impression on you?

Ephesians 4:29 says that we are to let no corrupt communication proceed out of our mouths. What does something corrupt do? It usually corrupts what's around it. But the admonition in the same verse is to instead concentrate on "that which is good to the use of edifying". What does something edifying do? It builds up like an edifice higher and higher. The result is at the end of this verse that we may "minister grace to the hearers".

Our daily conversations with believers and non-believers alike are like those comments made in court. Those with whom we come in contact are like the jury. The things we say have lasting impact. We cannot take back what we say. But, oh, if we only minister grace to the hearers, we can provide something so valuable and beautiful. And that too will stay with them and has the power to change their lives.

I'm reminded of a song we used to sing in church many years ago, Make Me A Blessing:

1. Out in the highways and byways of life, many are weary and sad;
Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife, making the sorrowing glad.
=Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life, May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
2. Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;
Tell of His power to forgive;
Others will trust Him if only you prove true every moment you live.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life, May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.
3. Give as 'twas given to you in your need; Love as the Master, loved you,
Be to the helpless a helper indeed; Unto your mission be true.
Make me a blessing, Make me a blessing,
Out of my life, May Jesus shine;
Make me a blessing, O Savior, I pray,
Make me a blessing to someone today.

Popular posts from this blog

Social Media Fast Day 1/2 I have been considering a social media fast.  Unbeknownst to me, someone I know was on a week long fast. She reported about how beneficial it was and I took that as a confirmation that this was the time for me. September 1 sneaked up on me and I had some commitments for posting some prayer requests, but once that was done, I uninstalled Facebook (my primary Social Media) form my phone. I can pretty well ignore Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter, LinkedIn and the like but Facebook is my constant itch that I have to keep scratching. I came to the realization that I primarily use Facebook to feed my desire for approbation.  Don't we all want to be admired and respected?  Don't we often want to be right, to have a forum where others are agreeing with our brilliance?  LOL I'm guilty. I also realize the other downside of social media for me and that's all the political vitriol.  As much as I don't get sucked into it, as much as I scroll past...

Choosing The Better Things - Women's Bible Study 9/21/17

As we studied the "whatsoever things" of Philippians 4, we covered things that we choose to think on.  As we make volitional choices in our lives, there are often "better things" that we find in God's Word. Here are some of them. Our Better Choices   Luke 10:41-42 New International Version (NIV) 41 “Martha, Martha,” the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, 42 but few things are needed—or indeed only one.[ a ]Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”   Our Priorities   1 Samuel 15:22King James Version (KJV) 22 And Samuel said, Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. Our responses   Psalm 84:10 Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the ho...

Baseball Thoughts on a Winter Day

I can't stop thinking about baseball. I'm happy for the moment (winter and all) but it would be so nice if it were a hot August night and we were watching the O's at Camden Yards. So I made this video today. It's some O's game footage from personal photography, misc. photos (amateur baseball players), and scans of much of my Orioles memorabilia from the early eighties. I hope you enjoy it.