Hebrews 12:14-17
Work at getting along with each other and with God. Otherwise you’ll never get so much as a glimpse of God. Make sure no one gets left out of God’s generosity. Keep a sharp eye out for weeds of bitter discontent. A thistle or two gone to seed can ruin a whole garden in no time. Watch out for the Esau syndrome: trading away God’s lifelong gift in order to satisfy a short-term appetite. You well know how Esau later regretted that impulsive act and wanted God’s blessing—but by then it was too late, tears or no tears.
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
Regardless of how you feel about the Paula Deen debacle, I think we can all agree that hers is a perfect example of how even a couple of ill-chosen words can have powerful – even permanent – ramifications. A snide remark, criticism, off-color joke, or disagreement with another may not cost you national endorsements or ruin your business… but these actions can certainly affect your reputation, your personal relationships – and possibly your bond with God.
The lesson for all of us is to guard not only what we say… but also our heart. It’s sort of the “garbage in – garbage out” theory. Here’s a good example… when I was in junior high, one of my teachers told a joke about a little girl who was talking to her mother about a movie titled “Damn Yankees.” Her mother said, “You cannot SAY that word!” The little girl replied, “Oops… I’m sorry… Darn Yankees!” We laughed, because in the late 1960s, people really couldn’t/didn’t use that word – or many others. It was considered impolite, improper, and in the eyes of some… sinful.
Today, I am hearing not only that word, but also words and distasteful phrases - like the LORD’s name taken in vain - on cable television programs, along with other off-color terms, as if they were regular table conversation. I’m not talking HBO or Showtime… I’m talking Bravo, E, and other channels that are available on satellite and cable TV packages… programs that run all hours of the night and day that any young child could view with the click of a remote control. And the saddest part of this is that we have become so accustomed to hearing these words that we don’t even notice… much less change the channel! This doesn’t even take into account the words and phrases that are spoken on our mainstream channels and/or “bleeped”…even though most of us know what is being said!
My point is that hearing these words in such common, public settings makes them too familiar… and opens the door for them to become part of our everyday vernacular. We see people arguing, screaming, throwing things and getting into brawls on “reality” TV shows and even daytime television, and we grow accustomed to believing that this is how “real” people behave. We lose our sense of self-control… our ability to regulate our words, deeds – and thoughts. And we allow these “weeds” to take root in our lives with little to no thought for the consequences.
My husband and I have been reading a book about the events that led to the beginning of the Civil War, titled 1861. In more than one instance, we have learned of the actions of a single person that completely changed the course of events. The stories of these individuals attest to the power of one person… both positively and negatively. Creating an atmosphere of calm and harmony begins with each of us. Finding God’s peace starts at home… in our own hearts.
Examine your daily activities and encounters. Look for areas where you are allowing “weeds” into the “garden” of your life. Ask God to show you how you are, at the very least, setting yourself up to satisfy short-term appetites (fitting in by telling distasteful jokes… letting others know how you really feel at the expense of their feelings – and your own dignity…peppering your language with colorful expletives…being critical in an effort to appear more intelligent or superior). Allow God to reveal these “weeds” to you and help you to eradicate them.
Make it your primary goal to stay in a right relationship with God… to always check with Him before speaking or acting… to become so attuned to His ways that even when you start to say or do something unkind or inappropriate… you check yourself and change course! The more this happens, the more you will recognize God working in and through you… and the more you will realize His blessings in your everyday living. As we have seen with Paula Deen, it’s very hard to take back what has been said or done. In other words, it only takes a “weed” or two to really mess up the “garden” of your life. Stay close to God and make sure yours is “weed free” at all times!
©2013 Debbie Robus
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