Slander from the Heart

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Slander from the Heart

Slander is purposefully making false statements  with the intent  of doing deep damage  to someone else.     Hence,  it is  acting out the hatred  in one’s heart.     Jesus said that slander  and other sins  come from the heart  —  and that is why  all these sins  defile a person.

To defile is  to make foul,  dirty,  or filthy  —  to pollute.     So,  choosing to slander  —  to let slander come out  from from one’s heart  —  is to make one’s self  foul and filthy.

Jesus’ explanation  of defilement is  in Mark 7:20-23,

And He was saying,  “That which proceeds  out of the man,  that is what defiles  the man.     For from within,  out of the heart  of men,  proceed the evil thoughts  and fornications,  thefts,  murders,  adulteries,  deeds of coveting  and wickedness,  as well as deceit,  sensuality,  envy,  slander,  pride  and foolishness.

All these evil things proceed  from within  and defile the man.”

Every kind of sin  comes from the heart.     Every sin  defiles us  —  makes us foul  and filthy.     But, people sometimes tend  to think  they can get away  with slander  because more false words  might cover it up.     Since God knows all things,  no one can ever hide anything  from Him.     Therefore,  Paul instructs  all Christians  in Ephesians 4:31-32,

Let all bitterness  and wrath  and anger  and clamor  and slander  be put away  from you,  along with all malice.     And be kind  to one another,  tender-hearted,  forgiving each other,  just as God  in Christ  also has forgiven you.

When Paul instructed  the new Colossian Christians,  he again mentioned the sin  of slander.     In Colossians 3:5-8 Paul wrote,

Therefore  consider the members  of your earthly body  as dead  to immorality,  impurity,  passion,  evil desire,  and greed,  which amounts to idolatry.     For it is  on account of these things  that the wrath  of God  will come,  and in them you also  once walked,  when you were living  in them.

But now  you also,  put them all aside:  anger,  wrath,  malice,  slander,  and abusive speech  from your mouth.

When Paul pointed out the problems  the Ephesians and Colossians were having  with slander  and other sins,  he was not slandering them  —  because he was being truthful  about the challenges  they were facing  in learning  to live  as Christ wants us  to live.

Seeing a problem  and lovingly speaking up  about it  in an effort  to help and save  is what God wants  His children  to do  for each other.     Because we all face challenges  every day  in taking a stand  for Christ,  we need  to help each other  and watch over  our own weaknesses,  lest we ourselves fall.

That is why Paul  valiantly stood up  for the truths  of God  and told the Corinthian Christians  in 2 Corinthians 13:5-6,

Test yourselves  to see  if you are  in the faith;  examine yourselves!     Or do you not recognize this  about yourselves,  that Jesus Christ is  in you  —  unless indeed  you fail the test?

But I trust  that you will realize  that we ourselves  do not fail  the test.

Paul’s love for Christ  and his fellowmen  made him a bold preacher.     Paul’s love  for Christ also caused him  to always examine  his own self.     He wanted  to always be sure  he honestly was living  in a God-pleasing manner,  while leading others  to a sure salvation  in Christ.

If Paul would have  just let these people continue  in their sinful lifestyle,  he would not have had  an honest love  for them.     Love urged Paul  to lead these people  to live Christ-like lives.     Paul’s love  made him a bold preacher  of God’s truths.

Such love  should be appreciated  because God does use people  to help people.

As we see God’s loving hand  in our lives,  let us say,  “Hallelujah!     Our Lord and Savior cares  for us  every step  of the way.”

Love,
Margaret

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A Christian devotional  to glorify  the LORD of lords  and GOD of gods.

Pray for our country.

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The LORD  made this day, let us rejoice  and be glad  in Him.

Psalm 118:24

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The word of the LORD is tried;

He is a shield  to all  who take refuge  in Him.

Psalm 18:30

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Sing for joy  in the LORD,  O you righteous ones;

Praise is becoming  to the upright.

Psalm 33:1

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How blessed are those  who dwell  in Thy house!

They are ever praising Thee.

Psalm 84:4

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Just as a father  has compassion  on his children,

So the LORD  has compassion  on those who fear Him.

Psalm 103:13

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O give thanks  to the LORD,  for He is good;

For His lovingkindness  is everlasting.

Psalm 107:1

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Glory in His holy name;

Let the heart  of those who seek the LORD  be glad.

Psalm 105:3

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Not that I have already obtained it,  or have already  become perfect,   but I press on  in order that  I may  lay hold  of that  for which also  I was laid hold of  by Christ Jesus.

Philippians 3:12

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