It started on the school playground.
We saw kids in a circle talking quietly while looking around to see if anybody else could hear them.
We walked over to the group and the talking stopped as if we had interrupted the party.
Actually, we had.
It was a party to which we weren’t invited.
The group didn’t want to confide in us.
And that’s OK. Our ability to lead a good and happy life without the hidden information was clear. So what if we weren’t part of the secrets-hoarding group? Were our lives ruined? Of course not.
I thank God that I know very little about all the morsels of gossip about me that have circulated in past schools, past workplaces and past ministries.
It would have been too easy for me to respond sometimes in ways that would not please Christ or help me.
My life isn’t less valuable or meaningful simply because I didn’t hear the gossip secrets.
This same truth is the case in your life, as well, I’m sure.
As we mature in faith, we are to become less concerned with trash-talking about us and more concerned with Truth-talking about Jesus.
What prompts your co-workers or classmates or club friends to gather around you at events or in break rooms?
Is it when you talk trash? Or is it when you talk Truth?
Hmmmmm…….
Colossians 3:17 instructs us to glorify God with whatever words we say.
You and I can’t control the words in the unsanctified circles of people in our world.
We can control the words flowing from ourselves, though.
We can say what reflects God’s nature of holiness, love, mercy, decency and fatherhood.
But ONLY if we enter the inner circle of His family.
A verse in Saturday’s reading in the One-Year Bible was quite intriguing to me. On the one hand, it told me that God wants to confide mysteries to me as I surrender my loyalty to Him.
On the other hand, the Holy Spirit linked that truth with my call to share the Word with my circles of influence.
“The Lord confides in those who fear Him; He makes His covenant know to them” (Psalm 25:14).
Unlike the gossip gang wanting to keep secrets from the ones they are attacking, we are to form groups sharing the mysteries of God with as many people as possible.
We are to build people up, not tear people down.
Please pray for the enlightenment of your heart and mind about the great truths of scripture as the Holy Spirit gives you ears to hear and eyes to see.
Pray that God increasingly confide great truths into your soul so that your sharing of love and inspiration prompts a circle of friends around you who want to hear Truth, not trash.
Who knows? Perhaps some of your classmates or co-workers or fellow church members will walk over to your group and hear God being praised instead of a person being dissed.
What a beautiful thing that would be.
As always, I love you
Martin
