Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Godless Chatter" by Harold Wedel for Saturday, 23 July 2016 with Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-26

Reflecting God - Embrace Holy Living from Wordaction of The Global Church of the Nazarene Publishing House in Kansas City, Missouri, United States "Godless Chatter" by Harold Wedel for Saturday, 23 July 2016 with Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14-26
-------
"Godless Chatter" by Harold Wedel
Scripture: 2 Timothy 2:14 Keep reminding people of this, and charge them solemnly before the Lord not to engage in word-battles. They accomplish nothing useful and are a catastrophe for the hearers! 15 Do all you can to present yourself to God as someone worthy of his approval, as a worker with no need to be ashamed, because he deals straightforwardly with the Word of the Truth. 16 But keep away from godless babbling, for those who engage in it will only become more ungodly, 17 and their teaching will eat away at people like gangrene. Hymenaeus and Philetus are among these; 18 they have missed the mark, as far as the truth is concerned, by saying that our resurrection has already taken place; and they are overturning some people’s faith. 19 Nevertheless, God’s firm foundation stands, stamped with these words:
“The Lord knows his own,”[2 Timothy 2:19 Numbers 16:5; Nahum 1:7]
and,
“Let everyone who claims he belongs to the Lord
stand apart from wrongdoing.”[2 Timothy 2:19 Numbers 16:26]
20 In a large house there are dishes and pots not only of gold and silver, but also of wood and clay. That is, some are meant for honorable use and some for dishonorable. 21 If a person keeps himself free of defilement by the latter, he will be a vessel set aside for honorable use by the master of the house and ready for every kind of good work. 22 So, flee the passions of youth; and, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart, pursue righteousness, faithfulness, love and peace. 23 But stay away from stupid and ignorant controversies — you know that they lead to fights, 24 and a slave of the Lord shouldn’t fight. On the contrary, he should be kind to everyone, a good teacher, and not resentful when mistreated. 25 Also he should be gentle as he corrects his opponents. For God may perhaps grant them the opportunity to turn from their sins, acquire full knowledge of the truth, 26 come to their senses and escape the trap of the Adversary, after having been captured alive by him to do his will.
-------
Hymn for Today: "I Will Sing of My Redeemer" by Philip P. Bliss (1876)
1. I will sing of my Redeemer 
and his wondrous love to me; 
on the cruel cross he suffered, 
from the curse to set me free. 
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer! 
With his blood he purchased me; 
on the cross he sealed my pardon, 
paid the debt, and made me free. 
2. I will tell the wondrous story, 
how my lost estate to save, 
in his boundless love and mercy, 
he the ransom freely gave. 
I will praise my dear Redeemer, 
his triumphant power I'll tell: 
how the victory he gives me 
over sin and death and hell. 
3. I will sing of my Redeemer 
and his heavenly love for me; 
he from death to life has brought me, 
Son of God, with him to be. 
Sing, O sing of my Redeemer! 
With his blood he purchased me; 
on the cross he sealed my pardon, 

paid the debt, and made me free. 
-------
Godless chatter is “unhallowed or profane words” that lead to “empty or foolish talk.” It usually happens when we say too much. That is why the Apostle Paul was teaching some young followers of Christ when he wrote: “Do not let any unwholesome talk [godless chatter] come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29, emphasis added). The Apostle James also wrote, “The tongue is like a spark that can lead to a wildfire. One word can lead to another until the whole conversation becomes godless chatter” (James 3:6, author’s paraphrase, emphasis added),
Godless chatter means we will become less and less like Jesus. We need to confess our failings to God and ask Him to be Lord of our conversations. Then, with God’s help we can avoid godless chatter and grow in our understanding of what it means to bring words of life to those who listen. Let’s join King David in his prayer concerning our conversations today. “May these words of my mouth and this meditation of my heart be pleasing in your sight, LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer” (Psalm 19:14).
-------
Thought of the Day: 1 Corinthians 14:12 Likewise with you: since you eagerly seek the things of the Spirit, seek especially what will help in edifying the congregation.
-------
Please Pray: That many people in Nigeria will come to know Yeshua the Messiah and receive the fullness of the Holy Spirit.
---------------------