You shall not
give false testimony against your neighbor.
Exodus 20:16 NIV
The Bible
says that liars of the Truth will end up in Hell.
The ninth
commandment is no joking matter. This one command is quite possibly the most
broken, and one we tend to see as minor sin. Our God, however, does not qualify
good and bad sin. Sin is sin to God, and He can tolerate none of it. One white
lie is as bad as a cold-blooded murder to a Righteous and Holy God.
Yet, most
of us break the command every day. Oh sure, I know you don’t go to court every
day to testify against your friends, but have you ever talked less than kindly
about them? Have you ever complained about their actions, repeated a rumor,
criticized their work, or summarized your theory about their life? Let me put
it in simpler terms. Do you gossip?
When you
say something about someone else that may damage his or her reputation, you
have broken the ninth commandment, and God says Hell is good enough for you!
Praise God for the grace of His Son Jesus, (grace and grace alone will get you
to Heaven) but you have broken His holy law when you speak against another.
What do
you have on your heart or mind today? (Remember, sin is not confined to action,
but also applies to hidden thought.) Is there something you’re thinking about
another person? Does what you’re thinking build them up or tear them down?
Would you repeat it to God? If you did, would God be proud of you for thinking
it?
Momma
(and Thumper) knew best when she said, “If you can’t say something nice, don’t
say anything at all.” Let that be your goal today. It will be tough! You may
have to bite your tongue a few times. You may not be able to talk for weeks.
But,
Praise God, you will be on your way to obeying the ninth commandment. Soon
you’ll start talking again. People will love what you have to say. God will be
pleased!
Speak the
truth in love today!
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