Oh No! I've done it again

"I've done it again - I should have learned to keep my big mouth shut. I've caused so many problems, it's totally unbelievable."

Not keeping our mouths in gear often hurts not just one person, but sometimes a lot of people associated with our lives at some point.

Often, we do things over and over again, and frequently it is just what we say rather than what we do, like when Toby shoots off his mouth. He reckons it is always best to reply with the right comeback, which makes you look like you are so intelligent.

Toby reckons it makes you appear strong and intelligent, especially when using funny insults, like when he said to Harry he's one-time mate,  "Geez mate, someday you should go far. I really hope you stay there." and again, " I'll never forget the first time we met. But I'll keep trying hahahaha."

He thought he was so, so funny coming up with these quips time and time again.

Things were going fine until Harry told Toby where to go and how to get there - they had been friends for so long, and Harry finally got thoroughly sick of this so-called friend of his insulting him over and over again.

Toby was devastated. "I didn't mean to hurt him - what should I do - just get me out of here!!  "I've gotta be a man on the run - I've gotta stay out of trouble - I've gotta stop trying to be so funny."

It's so sad when our 'funny' side can destroy what we have and what we did have, maybe for years. 

There are many times when our mouths, hands, and emotions speak and act before our heads are even in gear, or when we give even a little meaningful thought to our actions or even our reactions.

Jesus talked about what it would cost to cause someone to stumble. In Luke 17, Jesus said, "It would be better for him if a millstone were put around his neck and he be thrown into the sea than to cause one of these little ones to stumble. So be on your guard." 

WOW, what a horrible way to die - jumping in the sea with a millstone around your neck.

Causing someone to sin or "stumble," as the Bible puts it, has many connotations. It can be physical or emotional; either way, it can have a huge lasting effect on our lives. 

Whatever we do, we need to remember that no matter how big or small we feel our actions may be, they can or could have a lasting impact on other people.

Like Toby and Harry. Their friendship was amazing, and they went back years and years, even while they were at school together.

Toby was ALWAYS funny - always had to be the man in charge of being Mr. Cool - Harry, in the meantime, was the quiet guy, always there helping Toby with schoolwork and accepting everything he did and said.

Must have been hard for Harry. He always just accepted everything Toby did and said until that fateful day when, after all those years, he had had enough.

He thought, "Enough is enough. I'm not taking any more crap from this guy." 

Their friendship suddenly stopped! I wonder if they ever got back together?

Often, what we say or do can have a lasting effect on other people.

Jesus was so aware of how His actions were perceived by other people. He was always truthful and even told many in the so-called authority of the day just exactly how things were.

In Romans 14 and again in Corinthians, we are told we have a responsibility to our fellow believers in Christ. We also have a responsibility to our families and friends who aren't walking with the Lord at all.

Our attitude should reflect the love of God to everyone we come into contact with - our personal convictions towards others are a reflection of what Jesus has done in our lives.

We can have all sorts of disagreements regarding anything from entertainment, smoking, food, drinking - you name it, even when we set aside days to remember what Jesus did for us on that cross - all of these differences really don't matter at all.

The Bible doesn't provide instructions, and it is purely a matter of personal conviction as to how God is leading you. In other words, let's not share our individual feelings on how others should worship, as long as they worship Jesus and make Him their number one priority in life.

We shouldn't make it hard for others, and we should really stop passing judgment on each other.  Ways of worshipping God can be different for some people, so we shouldn't stand as a judge in any way at all.

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 7, "Do not judge or you will be judged,"  which seems pretty straightforward, BUT Jesus also gives us the opportunity and ability to tell right from wrong. We just don't and should never accept something that is way out of context with what the Bible teaches.

In other words, we need to be cautious about what we hear and shouldn't accept anything that contradicts what the Bible clearly teaches.

I hope you have a great week. Please keep in mind that the Bible teaches us all sorts of amazing truths. take time this week to study some of God's word, bearing in mind how your actions can often have a marked effect on others.

Jesus is our Lord and God, and how He lived is a great example for all of us.

Huge blessings