Daniel's Den

"Loaded"

Daniel Courington

Part II

Continued from bulletin on 9-17-08

Last week I talked about the ways that a gun mimicked the tongue. This is the completion of that article:

1. A gun's actions are irreversible
   

-We've all had that sinking feeling. The feeling where we want to believe that we didn't really do what it was that we just did, and we realize that we can't just take it back. If that action involves a gun, its consequences cannot be reversed. Sometimes there may be able to be preservation of life or the damage can be minimized but to the person just shot or the thing just destroyed- there is no way that it can simply be "undone". This is not to say that God will not forgive one (I John 1:9) or that we don't have a responsibility to forgive others (Luke 17:3-4). This is to mimic what Peter said in 1^st Peter 3:10 For "Whoever desires to love life and see good days, let him keep his tongue from evil and his lips from speaking deceit… It appears to me that Peter knew that the consequences of not taming the tongue would be that one would not be able to love life and see good days. Do you consider the long term effects when you talk to your friends, parents, and loved ones? Do you think of the impression that you leave with people for a lifetime?

Having said these things, I urge you to put your "gun" in the "safe" in the "safety position". Lock it down with a key and be very careful how you use your weapon. Don't hesitate to open the "safe" and share with others the good news of Jesus Christ but be extremely cautious before you ever open that "safe" to use your "gun" against someone and remember that you will always catch more bees with honey than vinegar. Be kind to one another and love one another!

A Scripture to Think About

1Jn 3:1-3 See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are. The reason why the world does not know us is that it did not know him. (2) Beloved, we are God's children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. (3) And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

Does the world know you?

Are you living a life of purity?

Are you putting your hope in Christ?

Aren't you ready to see God as he is?