“For he that will love life, and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips that they speak no guile.” –1 Peter 3:10

Consider the following question that someone once asked, “If someone paid you ten cents for every kind word you said about people, and collected five cents for every unkind word, would you be rich or poor?” If you were paid according to your words, what would your bank account look like? It is a sobering thought for all of us, yet our words bring more than money with them; they bring hurt or healing in the lives of others.

Have you ever stopped to consider that what you say has a direct impact on the lives of the people around you? That little joke, offhand comment, or meaningless story will affect someone who heard it. Words are not neutral. They either help or hinder others.

So often we can make comments without even thinking, yet hurt someone because of it. How many times have we heard of young people feeling worthless because of teasing at school? That situation doesn’t stop after high school; hurtful or mocking words still impact us as adults.

But on the other hand, words that are genuinely kind can help someone like no ointment or pain medicine could help. “A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver” (Proverbs 25:11). Words are two-edged swords; they can be used for good or for evil. You decide how your words are used.

There is no such thing as a meaningless word. Every word you speak has the power to help or hurt someone. How are you using your words today? Are you helping or hurting those around you? Don’t allow your words to become a stumbling block to someone. Use your words to edify, uplift, and encourage others. Think of your words today as unique, cost-free opportunities to tell someone how much you care, encourage them to keep going, or remind them of God’s love. (From “Daily in the Word”)

“Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord. Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head. Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”–Romans 12:19-21

There is a story told of a Baptist pastor during the American Revolution, Peter Miller, who lived in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, that enjoyed the friendship of George Washington. In Ephrata also lived Michael Wittman, an evil-minded sort who did all he could to oppose and humiliate the pastor. One day Michael Wittman was arrested for treason and sentenced to die. Peter Miller traveled seventy miles on foot to Philadelphia to plead for the life of the traitor. “No, Peter,” General Washington said. “I cannot grant you the life of your friend.” “My friend!” exclaimed the old preacher. “He’s the most bitter enemy I have.” “What?” cried Washington. “You’ve walked seventy miles to save the life of an enemy? That puts the matter in a different light. I’ll grant your pardon.” And he did. Peter Miller took Michael Wittman back home to Ephrata—no longer an enemy but a friend.

Many times the only thing standing between a new friend and us is kindness. People are usually unkind with others because they are hurting inside. They have been disappointed, let down, or hurt by someone they loved. So in turn, they take their anger out on others.The Bible is clear that our response to such unkindness and anger is to love. While our inner humanity urges us to exact revenge and revel in their downfall, God’s love in us demands that we have compassion on them and reach out to them in kindness.

Have you ever felt sorry for someone and sought to help them only to be met with a cold shoulder or an unkind response? That’s enough to cause anyone to become upset! But God shows us that even when others mistreat us or refuse our help, we are to be kind to them.

There are many ways to show kindness to your enemies. First, you can pray for them. The best way to develop a love for someone is to pray for them. Ask God to bless them and to heal their hurting heart.

Second, you can prefer them. If you work with them, ask them if they need you to get them anything. Take care of little things they are in charge of. Bring them coffee or their favorite drink. Without being patronizing or annoying, try to show your kindness to them each day.

And last, you can love them. Smile at them when you see them. Hurt for them when they hurt. Rejoice in their accomplishments. Genuinely love them and seek to communicate that love to them.

Think of someone you know who is always upset or perhaps mistreats you. How would Christ treat them? Show them kindness even when your flesh tells you to become upset and seek revenge. Your kindness may not always be met with appreciation, but remember Romans 12:21, “Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”(By Dr. Paul Chappell)

I remember a time when it was a common practice for parents to remind their children that God was watching what they did. Then some over-educationed, unlearned, nincompoops who thought they knew more than the Bible came along and told us it was unhealthy to do so. Considering how that generation turned out, it seems to me that it was the parents,as well as the children, who should have been thinking about God watching them.

The fact of the matter is–God is watching us. He observes all our ways and deals with us accordingly. That’s a fact that should impact the way we live. I love what football coach Joe Gibbs wrote regarding this matter:

It used to just be celebrities who had to live with the possibility that someone could be filming or taking pictures of them at any moment. But today, we’re all fairly accustomed to knowing that a camera is likely trained on us at every store entrance, every ATM machine, perhaps even when we’re trying to decide whether to run through a yellow light or not.

We’re a watched society—which can be troubling when we imagine how far some people could take these surveillance capabilities. But be that as it may, there’s an element of this that keeps us accountable. It keeps us honest, keeps us careful of our actions. In fact, it’s sort of a reminder that God’s cameras are always rolling—that he sees it all, even when no one else is looking. “For the ways of man are before the eyes of the LORD, and he pondereth all his goings.” (Proverbs 5:21).

We may not always be happy about that. There are parts of our average day that we’d just as soon keep private. But the fact that he’s watching is true just the same. Our job is to live in such a way that this knowledge is more comforting than convicting—to be glad that he “seeth in secret” (Matthew 6:6), to know that our desire is to please him and stay in close fellowship with him every minute of the day.

— Help me remember, Lord, that my life is an open book before you. Let this knowledge both change and challenge me. (Scripture references changed to KJV)

For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him. —2 Corinthians 5:21

When I read the following article by Stephen Davey my  thoughts stopped dead in their tracks. My heart stood in awe at the thought and it colored my thinking throughout the day. I hit the save button so I could read it again. Those who keep their focus on this glorious thought need never fear having a bad attitude, nor will they lack a reason to be thankful or motivation for Christian service. Keeping your focus here will simply, drastically, and permanently change your outlook on life and death:

Can you grasp the concept of Christ bearing the sin of the whole world on His shoulders? I can only understand a fraction of what that means. But an author by the name of Mark Mosley has helped me to capture a small drop from the ocean of truth encompassing Christ’s profound act of infinite sacrifice, by making this powerful statement:

“Jesus will bear the sins of the Assyrians, who gloated over their captives that they skinned alive. Jesus will bear the sins of SS troops, machine gunning women and children who ran from burning synagogues with clothing ablaze. Jesus will bear the sins of child molesters, making sure their victims never testify. Jesus will bear the sins of Pharaohs, sacrificing thousands of laborers lives to build themselves a deifying tomb. Jesus took on all of this and more.

He was tossed about in the endless storm of enraged fathers beating toddlers to death; pimps seducing runaways into lives of drugs and prostitution; Canaanites burning their children to Moloch; nice church ladies cannibalizing other nice church ladies over coffee; impoverished parents in China selling their children into slavery. He will bear the sins of Bible-believing leaders praying long and loud, while their wives sit in the back pews praying heavy make-up covers their bruises. Jesus will tumble alone.

He will bear the sins of embezzlers, gangsters, bullies, rapists, liars, the indifferent, the sadistic, the self-righteous. It is a scene of unbearable horror and unspeakable madness. He is the accused for us all, bearing the weight of abused children, families destroyed by adultery or apathy, civilizations decaying, wars ravaging, victims. Yet, through it all, deep in the terror of hell, He keeps His eyes wide open.

He is not just a bystander caught in the accident, He has come deliberately. He will accept it all, absorbing the full force of this storm of wrath in His body and mind and heart and soul, until there is nothing left to feel. Finally, the tumbling will slow a bit; the storm will slacken, and Jesus will lift Himself on His nailed feet to snatch a gasp of air and force His swollen tongue to shout, ‘It is finished – I’ve come; I’ve seen; I’ve paid for it all.'”

I would like to add to that last line just one more phrase: “and I have borne all this for them.” The mercy that God expended upon mankind at the cross was immeasurable. Christ died for the worst of sinners and loved the most hateful of enemies. What a powerful reminder of God’s enormous love. Christ bore our sin and our punishment so that we could bear His righteousness and His reward!

This is the greatest reversal in all of human history: sinners become sons of God, because the Son of God became sin for us!