“Love does no harm to its neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment
of the law.”
Romans 13:10 (NIV)
My grand kids love to play the game
“Never Have I” when they go swimming. It’s simple really. One person stands on
the diving board, back to the pool. Then he says “Never have I” and states
something that he has never done.
For example, “Never have I kicked a
dog.” Then the swimmers left in the water who HAVE done that very thing try to
swim from one side of the pool to the other as the person on the diving board
jumps in and tries to tag them. If he is successful, the person he tags is next
on the diving board. If he doesn’t tag anyone, he has to say another “never
have I.”
On one hot summer afternoon, eight
year old Jude was the person on the diving board. The other grand kids were
holding on to the side of the pool, hoping that he would say something they had
not done so they wouldn’t have to race to the other side.
Jude, in a sweet little voice,
called out “Never have I made someone’s heart feel down.” I smiled as every
person in the water swam frantically for the other side. And, yes, Jude tagged
one to take his place on the board.
But as they continued their game, it
occurred to me that if I were playing the specific “Never Have I” that Jude
called out, I would be one of those swimming for the other side of the pool.
One of those who has made someone’s “heart feel down.”
Jude has always been very careful
to never hurt someone’s feelings. It has happened to him before and he doesn’t
like the feeling but he also doesn’t want anyone else to have their “heart feel
down.”
I wish that I could tell you that I, too, am
very careful to never cause heartache with my words. But I can’t. I have spoken
without thinking or NOT spoken when I should have more times than I would like
to admit. Instead of encouraging and building someone up, I’ve done the exact
opposite either by my words or my silence.
Today’s Scripture burns my heart.
“Love does no harm to its neighbor.” And who is my neighbor? Everyone. Paul is
confirming what Jesus said to all of us.
If we love someone, we are going to
do everything we can to keep their heart from feeling down. It starts with what
comes out of our mouths. And the words we speak from our lips come straight from
our hearts.
If I am hiding anger or pride,
jealousy or hate in my heart, then my words will reflect that. And instead of
trying hard not to make someone’s heart feel down, I will be pushing it down
myself!
Can you relate? I imagine that we
all can. Either by what we have spoken or when we should have spoken up but
didn’t.
My encouragement to you today is to
not only stop and think before you speak, but to do that twice before uttering
a single word. If we truly love, as Jesus tells us to, we will do everything we
can to keep from making anyone’s “heart feel down.”
Lord,
my heart longs to be in tune with yours. I know that I don’t always love people
like You do. Please help me to love them and to build up rather than tear down.
In Jesus’ Name. Amen.
R.A.P it up
Reflect
·
Look over conversations you have had this last
week. How many times have your words been critical instead of loving?
Application
·
Begin each morning by praying “Lord, help me to
love like You do. Silence me when I am thinking of speaking unloving comments.”
Practice that every day.
Power Verses
·
Romans 13:10 (NIV) “Love does no harm to its
neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law.”
·
Matthew 7:12 (NIV) “So in everything, do to
others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the
Prophets.”
·
Matthew 12:36 (NIV) “But I tell you that men
will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they
have spoken.”
·
Proverbs 12:18 (NIV) “Reckless words pierce like
a sword, but the tongue of the wise brings healing.”
·
Proverbs 17:28 (NIV) “Even a fool is thought
wise if he keeps silent, and discerning if he holds his tongue.”
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