Today’s Devotional – February 6th (Forked Tongued Christianity)

By admin On January 14th, 2021

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Today’s Devotional – February 6th

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Forked Tongued Christianity

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“My little children, let us not love in word, neither in tongue;

but in deed and in truth.”

1st John 3:18

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Have you ever heard the expression, “Him speak with forked tongue!”

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Well, that was a common expression used by angry native Americans in many old cowboy movies.

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Now of course, this expression came from the observance of snakes.

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And one has to assume that God created this forked tongue on a snake to show us the hypocritical nature of evil.

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Well, today, we would use the word “liar”, or perhaps, “hypocrite”, instead of the “forked tongue”.

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**But possibly, the expression, “Him speak with forked tongue!”, really says it best!**

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Brown tree snake – Boiga – Wikipedia – Public Domain

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“WHOSO SLANDERS HIS NEIGHBOR, HIM WILL I CUT OFF”

Psalm 101:5

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And when you really think about it, how often do we speak with a forked tongue?

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Well, whenever I’m nice to a person to their face, but criticize them behind their back, am I not speaking with a forked tongue?

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Or when I spread malicious gossip about them, is this not hypocrisy?

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Gossips in the Altstadt in Sindelfingen, Germany – Sally Kennison – Share-alike License – CROPPED IMAGE – Wikimedia

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CHRISTIAN HYPOCRISY

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And just think about it! Even the Christian must beware!

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For instance, when I want to tell the world about the glories of Heaven, but my comfortable, opulent lifestyle preaches about earth, can it not be said about me, “Him speak with forked tongue”?

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Or when I claim to have Jesus living His life out in me, but my conversation is anything but Christ-like, am I not speaking with a forked tongue?

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Audience hands – Wikimedia – Public Domain

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“SERVE GOD ACCEPTABLY, WITH REVERENCE & GODLY FEAR”

Hebrews 12:28

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When I say the most inspiring words about following Jesus, and yet my normal behavior is to be “hip” or cute, or funny, or sexy, am I not preaching two entirely different sermons?

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Oh yes, my words might preach Jesus. But my behavior preaches the world!

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Dancing woman – croped and altered image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons License

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TWO ENTIRELY DIFFERENT MESSAGES!

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When I perform a song with inspiring words about Heaven, but the music, and my vocal intonation and inflections sound earthy, raw, and sensual, is my song not delivering two entirely different messages?

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Music Song Singer – cropped and darkened image – Wikimedia – C.C. Share-alike License

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FLEE FROM THE WRATH TO COME! LOL!

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If I’m warning people to flee from the wrath to come, while at the same time, purposely making them laugh at my jokes, am I not speaking as “one who jests”? (See Genesis 19:14)

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This was Lot’s problem, when trying to warn others to flee from Sodom. They thought he was just being funny!

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Yes, to warn others that we are very close to the day of Judgment and fiery indignation is a most solemn message.

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Yet when we keep our audience chuckling, they just think we’re being funny!

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Picture – Lot Escapes Sodom – www.thebiblerevival.com offers free Bible clipart – Public Domain.

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“THE…ONE…WHOSE NAME IS HOLY”

Isaiah 57:15

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When Jesus walked this earth, He spoke the plain unvarnished truth.

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But He felt no need to use worldly tactics to gain a large following.

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No, Jesus knew that by simply conducting Himself in a holy and reverent manner, that His heavenly Father would bless His message.

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Jesus didn’t need to joke, and make people laugh!

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**His message was very serious, and He didn’t want to cheapen the moment by “silly talk and jesting” (see Ephesians 5:4).**

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The eternal destiny of souls was hanging in the balance, and He was very careful not to mingle “lightness” and “levity” into His solemn message.

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Oh yes, Jesus had an inner joy, which shone in His eyes. And yet, He was a man of sorrows, acquainted with grief.

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But He could give an encouraging, sincere look of compassion to those who were weak and downtrodden.

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Brooklyn Museum – What Our Lord Saw from the Cross – James Tissot

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“TILL WE ALL COME IN…UNTO…THE FULLNESS OF CHRIST”

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“Till we all come in the unity of the faith,

and of the knowledge of the Son of God,

unto a perfect man,

unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:”

Ephesians 4:13

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There is soon coming the day when these above words will be fulfilled.

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And on that day, each and every true-worshipper of God will brightly reflect the character of Christ.

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Yes, on that day, God’s people will finally be illuminated with the brilliant light of God’s glory, reflecting the brightness of Christ, when standing on the Holy Mount of Transfiguration!

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Transfiguration – Bloch – Wikimedia Commons – US public domain

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AN “EPISTLE, KNOWN & READ OF ALL…”

2nd Corinthians 3:2

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O Stranger & Pilgrim, it is high time that we who profess to be followers of Jesus, make sure that both our life and words preach the same message!

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This should be our great desire and purpose!

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And the fact is, if our life reflects the holiness and warm sincere love of Jesus, then we really don’t even need to preach!

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Our generous, caring, sanctified lives will do all our preaching for us!

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Mall witnessing, Panama City, Panama

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TODAY’S PRAYER…

“Dear Lord, Give me the necessary experiences that will mold me and make me into Thy likeness…

Woman Praying – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0 Generic license

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THE END

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TODAY’S HEAVENLY SIGN

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***“By His (God’s)* *Spirit***

he has garnished

the heavens;

His hand has formed

the crooked serpent.”

Isaiah 26:13

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TOMORROW:

February 7th . . . . Why Not Just Eat, Drink & Be Merry?

Hands Toasting Drinks – Cheers! – cropped image – Wikimedia – Creative Commons Attribution 2.0

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