“Lord, who may abide in Your tabernacle? Who may dwell in Your holy hill? He who walks uprightly, and works righteousness, and speaks truth in his heart; He does not back-bite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his friend.” (1)
Righteousness and truth are the desirable traits of those who love the Lord. We stand for truth! But we have an enemy, whose name is Satan. He is against truth and anything that opposes God or His people. The Christian is constantly under his attacks. Satan is a crafty deceiver who forges all kinds of lies. His schemes, and cutting stratagems are detrimental to God’s people. He will use whatever he can, even gossip! A small pernicious false report can spread like wild-fire and deceive many. It can breed strife and separate close friends. James puts it this way, “But no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison.” (2)
Once, in time past, I had a friend who turned on me causing a great disturbance in my life. At this particular time in my life I fell and broke my leg. At the same time my friend’s husband passed away. Many people came to minister to me. A manifestation of envy and jealousy developed in her heart and she began to make false statements about me. It hurt! and it caused me pain! It doesn’t take much to start a wind of fire through gossip.
A subtle whisper of a lie can be tossed to and fro like a handful of feathers, and once they go out they can not be gathered up again. Each time an untruth gets told it is more distorted and soon follows slander. You get the picture don’t you? The Bible instructs us, “Let all bitterness wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice.” (3)
What is the Biblical framework to keep our hearts far from those subtle deceitful lies which which we fall into gossip and get us off course, taking us far away from God and His goodness? If we want to shine for God’s glory than we must have a pure testimony!
Here are some suggestions:
1. We are accountable before God. “I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak.” (4) Also, “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap.” (see Gal 6:7)
2. Restrain from the temptation of gossip. “Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” (5)
3. Make a choice to live righteously. “[He that] speaketh truth shewethy forth righteousness: but a false witness deceit.” (6)
4. If you fall prey to gossip or sin, pray for deliverance. “Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips [and] from a deceitful tongue. (7)
5. Examine the heart. “To speak evil of no one, to avoid quarreling, to be gentle, and to show perfect courtesy toward all people.” (8)
6. Keep godly friendships, that follow hard after God. “A evildoer listens to wicked lips, and a liar gives ear to a mischievous tongue.” (9)
Applying these principles allow the freedom to love to flow from the heart. We are called to edify those people God places around us. Let’s be people abiding, and dwelling with God. May we hold fast to the Word of God and seek to please Him in all we do. Remember Christ has already defeated Satan – he stands powerless as long as we are standing in the power of Christ.
O Heavenly Father, I give you my heart and ask that You keep it for Your services. Keep me aware and alert to Satan tactics that I not fall into his schemes of deception by doing his work instead of Your work. Thank You. Amen
Footnotes:
1. Psalm 15:1-3 nkjv 2. James 3:8 esv 3. Ephesians 4:31 esv 4. Matthew 12:36 esv 5. Psalm 34:13 esv 6. Proverbs 12:17 kjv 7. Psalms 120: 2 kjv 8. Titus 3:2 esv 9. Proverbs 17:4 esv
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