Thursday

1 Peter 2:1 

So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander.

No matter who or where you are, there is always somebody that is going to sour your day just by saying a few short and uncalled words now and then, even if they aren't true.  They may not see that they've just destroyed your day for nothing and their words are common and real only to them.

People don't think before they speak (or write) and the impact they might have, especially on themselves.  I, myself have been guilty of saying things without thinking, but at least I have repented and asked for forgiveness.  It's a learning process, which I'm getting good at simply by exercising it everyday.  Why is it simple?  Because I want to do it and I want to shut my mouth because others and their lives aren't my business, simply speaking.  Why don't others find it simple?  Because they know in the back of their minds that they really don't want to make themselves a nicer person.  Staying in ones comfort zone is easier than changing for the better.  That's all they know.  That's all they were taught.  They cannot see outside the box whatsoever.  There is only dark, and no light in their hearts.

So let's look at those words from the top verse;

Malice

Deceit

Hypocrisy 

Envy

Slander

Those are pretty harsh word, are they not?  But these are actions that we adhere to everyday, and a lot of the time without knowing it.  Why?  Because these things have become acceptable and 'normal' for a lot of people.  They don't see just how damaging they can be.  Those words have been well and truly liquefied through the ages and they've almost lost their meaning.  The words that should be taken seriously, have dissolved into everyday nothings.

Take the word 'envy' for example....  which also means jealousy.  If one says the word jealousy, it wouldn't sound as bad as the word envy.  Then when you are jealous, you don't really see it as jealousy - instead you see it as just wanting something that somebody else has.  That jealously has just become a want.   Then what happens when we want something really bad?  It becomes a need, even though we really don't 'need' it to survive - we just have to have it, but fully knowing we don't need it! 

So from Envy to Need.  We've simply justified something to suit ourselves just to make us feel better about something that God tells us we clearly shouldn't adhere to.

Here's another one, 'slander'..... which also means false.  If one says the word false, it wouldn't sound as bad as the word slander.  Then when you are making false claims, you don't see it as stating something false - instead you see it as telling a white lie or a half truth.  That falseness has just become a cute white lie.  Then what happens when you tell a cute white lie?  You've just given somebody a bad reputation for nothing!

So from Slander to Cute white lie.  It's all too easy to ruin somebody, isn't it?

No wonder the world is grim and dark.   People shoot off their mouths just for the heck of it and when they really don't have to, because of boredom or their need to be right all the time.  They have absolutely no integrity in my eyes.  It's just the way the world is unfortunately... so I try not to conform to it if I don't have to.  Hard to do because I'm in it of course, but the fact that Jesus is on my side makes it easier.  :)

So next time somebody says something completely dumb to you and without warrant, just happily and quietly know they are only hurting themselves.
Boy, what depressing lives they must be living....but there will always be a bright light at the end of that small and tight tunnel for them, because;


John 3:36 

Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on him."