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| Lake Junaluska is another Christian Retreat about 1 1/2 hours from Mt. Celo Church. My mother lives near this lake and loves our weekly drives around it. |
The Power of Words for Evil - The Leviticus and Matthew readings reveal to us the importance of words - for both good and evil - both in hearing and speaking. The sacrificial system in the Old Testament mandates the need for SACRIFICIAL BLOOD for these sins involving the negative power of words. Words are THIS serious in eternal destruction. If you hear the utterance of an oath (Lev. 5:1), if you swear thoughtlessly with your lips to do evil OR to do good...whatever it is that is pronounced by by an oath... (Lev. 5: 4) if you lie to your neighbor, swearing falsely (Lev. 6:1-7)...all of these are sins against the LORD, require confession, and necessitate atonement by blood sacrifice. Note in Matthew 28:11-15, the first attempt by the guards to tell the chief priests what happened (priests under the laws above)...the priests bribe the tomb guards to lie and say Christ's body was stolen by the disciples...and that they, the priests, would appease the governor and make the bribed guards secure if Jesus' escape from the tomb reaches the governor's ears. The guards took the money and did as they were instructed..."and this saying is commonly reported among the Jews until this day"...the lie, the deception continues.
The Power of Words for Good - In the Matthew account with the angel of the Lord at Jesus' tomb, we see that the angel spoke to the women but not to the guards. The guards were terrified just by the angel's appearance, but the women were calmed by the angel's words and told not to be afraid - "for I know you seek Jesus." Right motives lead to communication with and from God. The women are told Jesus is not dead in the tomb but risen. They are told to go quickly...tell His disciples...Behold I have told you." Jesus meets them and says, "Rejoice...do not be afraid...go...tell My brethren"...and the Great Commission...Jesus spoke saying.."go...make disciples of all nations...teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you... "(Matt. 28:1-20). Words are THIS powerful for the salvation of souls.
Psalms and Proverbs Driving Home Lesson of Godly speech - "Who may ascend into the hill of the LORD? Or who may stand in His holy place? He who has clean hands... and a pure heart...who has not lifted up his soul to an idol...nor sworn deceitfully, he shall receive blessing from the LORD...righteousness from the God of his salvation - not from men but from God...to those who seek Him, who seek His face. We get to commune with Him before His throne of grace. (Psalm 24:1-6) In Proverbs 9:7-9 we are cautioned not to correct a scoffer (one who mocks, derides, or reproaches in the language of contempt KJV dict. def.) or we will get shame as the reward...if we try to rebuke a wicked man we will harm ourselves...but the wise and just man loves correction and grows and increases in learning...
My Lesson and Application: Hearts are Revealed by the Words they Produce. "But those things which proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart; and they defile the man." (Matthew 15:18) "A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth that which is good; and an evil man out of the evil treasure of his heart brings forth that which is evil: for of the abundance of the heart his mouth speaks." (Luke 6:45) "But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment."(Matthew 12:36) Am I so very mindful at all times that my words are known to God and impacting His kingdom - for evil or for good? I will give an account. Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your Sight, my Rock and my Redeemer. Psalm 19:14
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