Thursday, August 20, 2009
Colossians 3:12 As God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
JESUS OUR BLESSED EXAMPLE
As baptized members of God's holy family, we're privileged to use our tongues in ways that protect our neighbor's good name. How may we do this? Consider the blessed example of our Savior:
When an overconfident Peter promised to remain loyal though all others would become disloyal ("I'll never deny You!"), Jesus didn't cut Peter down. He spoke a word of love to build him up: "I've prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. When you have turned back, strengthen your brothers." When He suffered betrayal at the hands of the turncoat disciple Judas, He held no grudge. In the Garden He whispered a word of kindness to call him to repentance: "Friend, why have you come? Are you betraying the Son of Man with a kiss?" When vengeful enemies derided Him and nailed Him to the cross, He responded with a compassionate word: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do."
We are privileged to follow Jesus' example. We may use our tongues in ways that build others up rather than tearing them down. We may halt uncharitable gossip in its tracks by finding something good to say about a person being maligned. Instead of harboring resentment against one who hurts us, we may smother him with love to demonstrate how much we appreciate the undeserved love we ourselves have received from our Lord.
We may pray to the Holy Spirit asking Him to strengthen us to follow the example of the Savior who said only good things about others, even when they were accusing Him of blasphemy and all kinds of horrible crimes.
Prayer: God of truth and love, forgive the sins of my tongue where I have spoken evil of my neighbor and hurt his good name. help me to guard his good name, speak well of him, and explain all his words and actions in the kindest way.
Keep me from saying things That later need recalling;
Grant that no idle words May from my lips be falling,
But then, when in my place I must and ought to speak,
My words grant power and grace Lest I offend the weak.
In the name of Jesus my Savior I ask it. Amen.
