April 2 ~ Titus 2:7-8Always set a good example for others. Be sincere and serious when you teach. Use clean language that no one can criticize. Do this, and your enemies will be too ashamed to say anything against you.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
This morning, I heard a conversation on “The View” about children repeating improper language they hear from us. The conversation centered on how you handle this… do you chastise a child for repeating a word you use frequently? Of course, the solution is to refrain from using these words in the first place. The ladies discussed how “we all slip sometimes,” and also pointed out that “less-than-clean” language is now peppering our television shows unapologetically. So the comment was also made that… “Children are bound to hear these words somewhere.” The implication was that “it’s not our fault – this behavior has become mainstream!”
So what are we to do? I believe that we are given some pretty good guidelines in Titus 2:7-8. First, make sure that YOU are not using unclean language… that no one can criticize what you are saying – or how you say it. Don’t call people names, gossip, or pepper your conversations with expletives. We need to all take a deep breath before we speak… count to ten when we are angry… and choose our words carefully in every situation. Yes, there are times when we slip… there are instances when we really want to let someone have it… there are circumstances that make us all want to pull out every hair on our head – and utter an expletive or two! But we must make a concerted effort to keep this in check…and God can help us do this, if we will call on Him!
Lest you think that I am a “goody-two-shoes” or something, let me assure you, I know all too well about foul language. When I was just entering high school, I hung around with some older kids who “cussed like sailors.” They thought it made them look cool, and they taught me every four-letter word in the book – and then some. I would venture to say that NONE of us speak like this or use this sort of language today. While I can’t say that we didn’t know what we were doing when we were teenagers – because we got a kick out of using this language for shock value – we grew up in more ways than one and learned that this is not acceptable behavior. We came to understand the significance of behaving above reproach – and for the most part, we know and do better today. We are sincere and serious… we recognize the importance of setting a good example for others. We also understand that people are always watching… always!
Your words and actions tell the world a lot about your values. The person who has the least materially but presents a neat, clean, well-mannered, respectable appearance and behaves genuinely and honorably gives others far less to discuss and/or criticize than the “wealthiest” person who spews garbage and acts dishonestly and with condescension or disrespect. Our challenge as Christ’s disciples is to behave in such a way that our “enemies” would be ashamed to criticize us. How are you doing? Are there areas in which you can improve? Are you taking this walk with Christ seriously and leading by example? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
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