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In Christ, Mark

The scriptures. May God bless the reading of His holy word.

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim.

Proverbs 26:2 (NLT)     

This ends this reading from God's holy word. Thanks be to God.

Have you ever been the victim of an undeserved rumor or verbal attack?

I know I have.

I’m not sure why some people feel they need to say things that aren’t true about others but then again it’s simply just sin coming from the mouths of sinners, perhaps no less acceptable to the Lord than profanity or lying, two others atrocities that too many of us utter with our lips.

So how should we deal with gossip or hearsay when it occurs?

First, if someone is telling you something about another, don’t be a participant in the gossip process. You can stop it by telling the person you don’t approve of gossip or simply walking away if the person you’re talking to persists. When you’re talking to them about their gossip, perhaps you can use it as a ministry moment and share what the Bible says about that particular kind of sinfulness. We need to take advantage of every ministry moment we can.

The other thing to do if someone is talking about you maliciously behind your back is to not allow it to bother you. I mean, why even worry about it if it isn’t true? Didn’t the Lord promise us that He would always be with us? Didn’t He promise us that He would protect those who remain faithful to Him, following His will and way? Didn’t He promise us that He would not allow any weapon formed against us to prosper? And this would include words that are formed as weapons.

In the end translation, ill intended words can only take root if we allow them to land on us and make a nest. Otherwise, they just fly around looking for another place to settle and maybe, just maybe, that might be back on the one who started the gossip or rumor in the first place. You see, often times, the Lord brings sinful actions right back on the perpetrator of those actions.

Just in case you think I was smart enough to come up with that on my own, let me say it wasn’t from me but from a wise king that the Lord blessed with special discernment and prudence more than 2,000 years ago. Look at these words from Solomon:

Like a fluttering sparrow or a darting swallow, an undeserved curse will not land on its intended victim. Proverbs 26:2 (NLT)

When we refuse to allow undeserved words to affect us, then they will not be able to land on us and establish a home. Instead, they will continue to fly around us like that fluttering sparrow or darting swallow, dashing and darting from place to place but never coming to rest, that is until they return to their nest, back to the place they started.

This is what a person who spreads maliciousness should be most concerned about. For just as a well thrown boomerang returns to the person who threw it, so too will sinful words thrown out without hitting their target return to the one who spoke them. And in some cases, the damage they intended to cause others will actually fall on them. The Lord has a way of teaching us lessons like that.

So next time you hear something that has been said about you that isn’t true, brush it off as you would a pesky fly that you don’t want to land on you. Whatever was spoken was undeserved and untrue. You have better things to do with your time than worry about it, like serving the very Lord who will protect you and judge the sinner who started the gossip or rumor against you.

Remember His promises. Gladly receive His safeguarding. Be obedient to His call. Follow His will and way. And only allow His words to build a nest in your heart, mind, and soul, today and forevermore.

Amen.

In Christ,

Mark

PS: Please share this with anyone you feel might be blessed by it.

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