Sticks & Stones


STICKS & STONES

“He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” – Micah 6:8 NIV

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.”  We have probably all heard this saying before, or some variation thereof.  Too bad it isn’t true.

While sticks and stones can hurt us, often it is the invisible fiery darts of a sharp and unrestrained tongue that inflict the most painful and lingering damage.

I have long forgotten the pain from a hard punch to the arm, but I can still recall how it felt to be ridiculed or taunted.  While I can now view past events through wisened eyes, there is still a faint imprint of those events impressed on my soul.

Recently, I have encountered Christians bludgeoning one another with not only harsh words, but scripture, attempting to win arguments.  If we use the Word to inflict harm, we miss the whole point of the Word of God and the work of the cross.

“I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing.” – 1 Corinthians 13:2.

If we know the truth, but our words or attitude are devoid of love, even if we “win” the argument, we will have lost it in the Lord’s eyes.  How sobering to think that our life and walk would amount to nothing!

Father, forgive us for using Your holy Word to commit unholy deeds. Teach us to use our sword and shield to stand against the powers of darkness, not to slay our neighbor.

Put a guard on our lips that we will remain undefiled (Matt 15:11), see long life and good days (1 Peter 3:10).  Teach us to turn the other cheek and to bless those who curse us.  And as we righteously weigh our words (Pro 15:28), we pray that the world will see Jesus within us.

We need Your help, Lord.  Awaken Your church and heal the sickness of our souls. Remove every part of us that continues to give place to darkness, and fill us with more of Jesus.  Change us, Lord!  Remake us for Your glory, that we will learn to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with You and our fellow man.  In Jesus’ Name ❤️

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