.
The next passage we take a look at may take us a few weeks to get our heads
around. Many times in life words have several meanings. Sometimes we think
we know what something means only to find out something was lost in the
translation. Words can cut to our heart. Greetings in the name of our Lord
and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Have you ever lost your temper? Threatened to do something to someone?
Gone so far as to say you would take them out? We all lose it and overreact
at times. What does it mean when we say things to others? Are words really
that important?
Out on the track things happen and when they happen to us we react. We
usually do not wait to figure out what really happened before we respond.
Racers, in the heat of the moment, have been known to do things they later
regret.
The same applies in our life, we say things and direct them at people
without knowing all the facts. We use comments that we wouldn’t say to their
face. We direct them at them when they are not there. Why is it easier to
put someone down when they are not there? Social media has only proven to
feed into this.
Think about when you drive in your car. How many times do you direct
comments at other drivers? How many of those comments are complimentary? It
is a byproduct of the world we live in. We think we know how everyone else
should be doing things.
Take a look at this passage and let’s spend some time to explore it.
Matthew 5:21-26, "You
have heard that it was said to the people long ago, `Do not murder, and
anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.' But I tell you that anyone
who is angry with his brother will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who
says to his brother, `Raca, ' is answerable to the Sanhedrin. But anyone who
says, `You fool!' will be in danger of the fire of hell.
"Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember
that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there in front
of the altar. First go and be reconciled to your brother; then come and
offer your gift.
"Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do
it while you are still with him on the way, or he may hand you over to the
judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown
into prison. I tell you the truth, you will not get out until you have paid
the last penny.
If I asked you if you had committed murder you would say no. But take
a look at the passage. Jesus says if you even call someone a fool or raca,
which means worthless, you have violated this commandment. Murder is not the
same as killing. We think of killing as taking someone’s life. Jesus says
murder is killing someone’s spirit.
When we tear someone down with words we kill their spirit. We devalue
them. God values each one of us the same. In God’s eyes we all are the same.
When we do not value what God values we elevate ourselves above Him. We do
not have that right.
Jesus tells us that when we do not show others the same value that God
does we, in effect, murder them, kill their spirit. Jesus says we do not
have the right to do that.
I know this is more far reaching than we have considered when we think
about the commandment not to murder and I am sure we haven’t considered the
words we use as that harmful, but think about what Jesus is saying. We need
to value what God values. We do not have the right to cut down what He has
created.
Think about the words we use this week. We say so many things without
thinking. Giving some thought to what we say and who we say it to starts the
process of learning to value what God values. We need to ask God for
forgiveness for the times we cut others down with words. We will explore
more of this teaching next week. For now we will stop here.
Until next time, remember God loves you and Jesus is Lord over Auto
Racing! God Bless. Remember, that your prayerful support helps us continue
this ministry. Thank You.
Be a witness for our Lord with the ministry decals and
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you are in, or give us a call. Remember that God loves you, we love you and
Jesus is Lord over Auto Racing. GOD BLESS.
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Numbers 6:24-26 "The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord
make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you;
the Lord turn his face
toward you and give you peace."
May God always Bless you, everyday in everyway. Rev. Don
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