Keep in Mind

Keep in Mind

Romans 1: ²⁸ Because those people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about God, he has given them over to corrupted minds, so that they do the things that they should not do. ²⁹ They are filled with all kinds of wickedness, evil, greed, and vice; they are full of jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, and malice. They gossip ³⁰ and speak evil of one another; they are hateful to God, insolent, proud, and boastful; they think of more ways to do evil; they disobey their parents; ³¹ they have no conscience; they do not keep their promises, and they show no kindness or pity for others. ³² They know that God's law says that people who live in this way deserve death. Yet, not only do they continue to do these very things, but they even approve of others who do them.

 

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When I took the exam, I did well. I studied and memorized all the facts. Years later, after not having used the subject, I struggled to remember the content. When someone asked me questions, I could not help. I had forgotten everything.

 

• There have been many things I used to know that I have forgotten.
• There have been many practices I used to do that I no longer do.
• There have been many things that were good for me, and I did at one time that I stopped doing.

 

Paul continues explaining what GOD revealed to him. He says that some people refuse to keep in mind the true knowledge about GOD. Because of this, GOD allows those people to have a corrupt mind, doing anything evil that feels right to them.

 

• GOD wants me to keep HIM top of mind every day.
• GOD wants me to know I would choose evil every time if it weren’t for HIS guidance each day.
• GOD wants me to recognize I would choose greed, vice, jealousy, murder, fighting, deceit, malice, gossip, slander, pride, boasting, disobedience and hatred unless I speak to HIM each day.

 

Having done many evil things on this list, I can testify that Paul’s writing is true. I mean, when he puts jealousy next to murder, it really makes me think that I am hopeless. BUT GOD gave me a way out of my mess.

 

Only GOD HIMSELF could save me from my sin. I would never choose HIS way, so HE chose me instead. HE died just for me and was raised from the dead. JESUS then sent the HOLY SPIRIT to live inside me to guide me back to HIM. I still want sin, but I keep in mind what GOD wants.

 

• Are you doing what you want, never asking GOD what HE wants you to do?
• Do you see things only from your perspective, justifying your actions along the way?
• Will you keep GOD in mind, knowing you could fall to the things HE does not want you to do, so you could be given your perfect purpose today?

Shame Line

Mark 15: ²⁷ With Him they also crucified two robbers, one on His right and the other on His left. ²⁸ So the Scripture was fulfilled which says, “And He was numbered with the transgressors.”

²⁹ And those who passed by blasphemed Him, wagging their heads and saying, “Aha! You who destroy the temple and build it in three days, ³⁰ save Yourself, and come down from the cross!”

³¹ Likewise the chief priests also, mocking among themselves with the scribes, said, “He saved others; Himself He cannot save. ³² Let the Christ, the King of Israel, descend now from the cross, that we may see and believe.”

Even those who were crucified with Him reviled Him.

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“You must attend the meeting” said my employment lawyer as she coached me through maximizing the exit package. During the meeting I could hear overt conversations. “Why is he presenting? He won’t be here anyway.” Another said “Maybe he is trying to do a last ditch effort to save his job.”

• There have been times when I have been shamed.
• There have been times when people who once were “with” me, said plenty of words against me.
• There have been times when I could hear the insults and could not even respond.

Powerful people tried to add insult to injury as they looked at JESUS in disgust. GOD was lumped in with the bad guys even though HE committed no sin. Known felons were not insulted, but JESUS was. Even one of the criminals, who was dying right next to JESUS,  hurled insults at HIM.

• JESUS says to me “They will hate you because of ME.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”
• JESUS says to me “Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

Insults never feel good and I have dished out many. Looking back I have joined in on the shame line to hurl insults at people, maybe not at their face, but in smaller gossipy places. GOD has forgiven so much from me. HE took the shame without cursing as HE said “FATHER forgive them for they do not know what they are doing.” I am grateful for HIS shame.

• Are you full of shame right now?
• Have you joined in to shame someone even if it was done in gossip?
• Will you give your shame to GOD, whether you received it or dished it out, today?

In the Spotlight

Ecclesiastes 7: ²¹ Do not pay attention to every word people say,
    or you may hear your servant cursing you—
²² for you know in your heart
    that many times you yourself have cursed others.

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Walking past a group of the “in crowd” I stopped and paused next to them. They were chattering about different subjects that I found relevant and I wanted to be in the clique. I answered a question that was not asked to me and got “looks” from a few people in the group.  Expecting to hear something good, I returned again later. The next time I tried to insert myself into the conversation, I realized a couple of people were talking “about” me and giggling.

• Sometimes I wanted to be part of the crowd a little more than I should have.
• Sometimes I listened in on conversations that I was not welcome.
• Sometimes I eavesdropped when I should have kept to myself.

It is not a bad thing to seek friends, but choose them wisely is what someone taught me. I wanted to be in the spotlight with a crowd of people who did not care about me or anyone else. I was even willing to change my personality in order to fit in with the group. BUT GOD guided me away.

• GOD wants me to join a crowd of people who are serving HIM.
• GOD wants me to accept people the way they are.
• GOD wants me to be the person who brings people together and throw my slanderous tongue away.

Instead of being like people GOD wants me to be like HIM. HE cares infinitely about me and wants me to do the same for HIS people on a smaller scale. GOD wants my tongue to be encouraging and my ears closed to negative conversation. I pick and chose conversations to join in on.

• Are you an eavesdropper?
• Do you listen in on conversations that you may get your feelings hurt?
• Can you step back and add GOD’s discernment to whether you should be listening?
• Will you start your own crowd of followers of GOD?

Yeah, I’m Talkin’ about You

Proverbs 26: ²⁰ Without wood a fire goes out;
    without a gossip a quarrel dies down.
²¹ As charcoal to embers and as wood to fire,
    so is a quarrelsome person for kindling strife.
²² The words of a gossip are like choice morsels;
    they go down to the inmost parts.

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“It’s ashamed what happened to INSERT NAME” was always the start of a conversation I had no business being in. At first I stayed away because I had been on the other side of the words many times. But I was now “in the club” and I couldn’t pass up these juicy morsels.

• There have been times where I have joined gossip.
• There have been times where I have listened to others rant about someone else.
• There have been times where I have absorbed the strife about another person who was not present.

I could say I never actually “spread” the gossip or that I never actually “initiated” the gossip, but listening is just as bad. What can I do?

• GOD says to me “Wanting to hear gossip is just as bad as saying gossip.”
• GOD says to me “Love your enemies as well as your neighbors.”
• GOD says to me “Do not slander or it will fall on you.”

Spreading gossip is offensive to GOD! HE does not like when I speak about someone in slanderous tones especially when they are not present. If I cannot say what I have to say to their face and in front of an impartial group, then I should not say it at all. GOD wants me to change my words from poison to praise.

• Are you gossiping?
• Do you feel the need to talk about other people?
• Are you listening to gossip?
• Will you change your ways and encourage people instead of tearing them down?

Hard Choices

2 Samuel 20:Now a troublemaker named Sheba son of Bikri, a Benjamite, happened to be there. He sounded the trumpet and shouted,

“We have no share in David,
    no part in Jesse’s son!

Every man to his tent, Israel!”

² So all the men of Israel deserted David to follow Sheba son of Bikri. But the men of Judah stayed by their king all the way from the Jordan to Jerusalem.

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“The teacher is a drunk” I giggled. Normally quiet, I wanted to break in my new comedy routine but did it quite awkwardly. This particular teacher did not like me nor did I have any great feelings for her. She was mean, but with me, she seemed to go out of her way. My quip made those around me giggle so her investigation almost got me sent to the principal. I was given a choice, keep clowning or straighten up.

• Sometimes it’s not my peers that makes me do wrong things.
• Sometimes it’s not the situation that makes me want to do wrong.
• Sometimes it’s not someone else tempting me when I do something wrong.

It’s a hard pill to swallow when I’m at fault. I mean, I try to convince everyone around me that “they” are doing things to me, meanwhile I thicken my blinders to the root cause, namely me. The limelight feels great but I noticed my crowd quickly disappeared when the heat got turned up. Soon I was left standing there labeled as a troublemaker.

• GOD wants me to admit I need HIM rather than thinking other people are the problem.
• GOD wants me to trust HIS ways rather than speaking against HIM.
• GOD wants me to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove.

The attention I sought needs to be placed on GOD rather than myself. HIS path is far greater than any other path I could choose.

• Are you causing trouble?
• Are you talking about someone else without speaking about how you have failed in the past?
• Can you mature and get on GOD’s path?
• Can you check out your words today to see if they have poison rather than praise?

Being above pettiness

1 Samuel 30: ²¹ Then David came to the two hundred men who had been too exhausted to follow him and who were left behind at the Besor Valley. They came out to meet David and the men with him. As David and his men approached, he asked them how they were. ²² But all the evil men and troublemakers among David’s followers said, “Because they did not go out with us, we will not share with them the plunder we recovered. However, each man may take his wife and children and go.”

²³ David replied, “No, my brothers, you must not do that with what the Lord has given us. He has protected us and delivered into our hands the raiding party that came against us. ²⁴ Who will listen to what you say? The share of the man who stayed with the supplies is to be the same as that of him who went down to the battle. All will share alike.”²⁵ David made this a statute and ordinance for Israel from that day to this.

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“I’m not sure if he is a good boss or not” were the words that came from my lips as we met by the coffee machine and chatted. Months later we were going through yet another reorganization. He moved my family to a faraway land and we still questioned the validity of his business prowess, but exclaimed praise for his upward momentum.

One day he pulled me in his office and said, “I have watched over you. Raise yourself above any petty talk and you will succeed.” I think he knew I was talking about him. He blessed me for years after with raises and promotions. He went on to become the CEO.

• When I gossip I am being petty.
• When I talk about people who didn’t pull their weight I am being petty.
• When I think negatively about someone GOD is raising up I am being petty.

“Eighty percent of the work is done by twenty percent” of the people is how the old saying goes. Am I in helping group or the group that sits back and murmurs and complains about the boss? Well apparently I was in the latter of the two. BUT GOD wants me to be different.

• GOD wants me to stop complaining about “that” person and start praying “for” that person.
• GOD wants me to stop murmuring and start moving.
• GOD wants me to stop holding people back and start helping them move forward.

From his mentorship I was able to let go of my pettiness and grow people to become my boss and greater without being jealous. GOD blessed me with removing my blindness to others and great thing happened.

• Are you being petty?
• Are you too blind to see what GOD sees in “that” person?
• Do you murmur about “those” people?
• Can you reduce your complaining and gossiping and begin praising GOD for  HIS blessings?

The High Road to True Leadership

1 Samuel 24: ³ He came to the sheep pens along the way; a cave was there, and Saul went in to relieve himself. David and his men were far back in the cave. ⁴ The men said, “This is the day the Lord spoke of when he said to you, ‘I will give your enemy into your hands for you to deal with as you wish.’” Then David crept up unnoticed and cut off a corner of Saul’s robe.

⁵ Afterward, David was conscience-stricken for having cut off a corner of his robe. ⁶ He said to his men, “The Lord forbid that I should do such a thing to my master, the Lord’s anointed, or lay my hand on him; for he is the anointed of the Lord.” ⁷ With these words David sharply rebuked his men and did not allow them to attack Saul. And Saul left the cave and went his way.

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“Get out of my meeting!” were the disturbing, yet satisfying words I have only spoken once in my career. As I disposed of the blustery person I felt relieved that my meeting would continue, but even more, the blatant disrespect was squelched and no one dared to challenge me like that.

Years later as I tried to change jobs, I went to interview at a company. I prepared by doing research. The next day the interview was cancelled. I was extremely confused and dug a little deeper. The guy I threw out of my meeting was in charge of the department at that company.

• Getting even is extremely satisfying, short term.
• Getting the upper hand is filled with elation, short term.
• Getting rid of blustery, mean, overbearing people is so rewarding, short term.

One might say I did the right thing at the time, but I never went back to the guy to understand what he was going through and why he was so passionate. I was so focused on the matter at hand that I could not see a larger picture of working together.

• GOD wants me to bring people together rather than always seeking ‘my way.”
• GOD wants me to forgive my enemies rather than seeking immediate vengeance on them.
• GOD wants me to see the situation from HIS perspective rather than looking at it from my short term lens.

David took the high road which actually gave him more power than he could realize. The times when I took the high road seemed foolish and downright crazy to most, BUT GOD knows and loves me for it. The high road brings people to GOD!

• Are you in a position where you can harm someone?
• Is your tongue spitting slander or poison about people?
• Can you take the high road and speak praises about “that” person?
• Will you allow GOD to take revenge on “that” person while you pray for them?

Weak weapons Strong weapons

2 Corinthians 12: ²⁰ For I am afraid that when I come I may not find you as I want you to be, and you may not find me as you want me to be. I fear that there may be discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, slander, gossip, arrogance and disorder.

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“Keep a level head,” “Treat people as you want them to treat you,” “Slow down when situations are escalating,” “Don’t stoop to low levels, take the high road” are amongst the many words of advice my mentors have given me throughout the years. As they watched me grow so did my career.

But the people they warned me about in some advice given, got on my nerves. I mean they deserved a few slanderous words and “when I take over I would get rid of them,” I thought to myself. Was I becoming like them?

• Discord and jealousy get me nowhere but in trouble.
• Fits of rage and self-ambition put me on an island that no one wants to be on.
• Slander and gossip are tools for the weak and when I use them it takes away my strength.
• Arrogance and disorder are the result of losing my cool and using weak weapons.

It takes strength not to fall to “that” person’s level and I have failed at that over and over again. When I do, I don’t want my mentors watching me. It seems like things get in a mess and situations begin popping up all over the place. BUT GOD gave me different weapons to use.

• GOD gave me “prayer” which is an open door to come to HIM with any situation I’m in.
• GOD gave me “faith” to be used when my selfish ambitions get in the way.
• GOD gave me “promises” that if I serve others HE would reward me abundantly, if not in this life then in the next.
• GOD gave me “love” to be dished out on those I want to slander so I can see the example HIS SON did for me.

“But they are acting a fool” I thought to myself. GOD says “Follow MY gently, faithful, kind, merciful, loving ways and you will always be fine. “I guess I better get back on the high road and not let them take me down” was the thought that set my course straight.

• Is someone getting on your nerves?
• Do you feel rage building up just thinking about “that” person?
• Can you slow your thoughts down enough to see and hear GOD’s ways?
• Won’t you listen to HIM and show “that” person some love?