I have heard in my youth, and even use the phrase today, “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all”. Whether you have heard it or not, this is really a great phrase to live by.

“¹³Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit.” – Psalm 34:13 (ESV)

The verse above may not be exactly the same as the phrase I mentioned, but another great example of minding what you say. It is important to remember that others will certainly remember and hold us to what we say. By keeping away from evil with out tongues, we reduce the amount of items that others can hold against us.

Think of today’s society and how many time have we been made aware of something someone said in a private conversation. That which was said was recorded in the attempt and then actual use to catch someone expression something deemed evil and/or even not evil, but taken out of context to be determined to be evil. Now I am not looking to express my thought on whether or not it is right/or wrong to record a conversation, but I am concerned with what is said when we are not minding our tongue.

It is important to express ourselves with what we believe to be right, but we must keep that to that which we believe to be right in the eyes of God. I have to remember to stay away from evil talk and do that which will bring God into the lives of others while living my mission to improve lives through growth and learning. That learning may include hard truths, but it should not include evil statements. “If you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything.”

When have you said something that you regret afterward? Are you aware of what you say in the moments you say them? What if you were to really mind your tongue and watch what you say to be sure that you are bringing God not evil into the conversation?

I have been/am a part of organizations or groups that are cold and lifeless without any emotional attachment. I have been/am treated as though I am just a machine that only gets attention when it is breaking down and needs to be replaced (yes I said that right, not repaired, but replaced).

“⁸How can I give you up, O Ephraim? How can I hand you over, O Israel? How can I make you like Admah? How can I treat you like Zeboiim? My heart recoils within me; my compassion grows warm and tender. ⁹I will not execute my burning anger; I will not again destroy Ephraim; for I am God and not a man, the Holy One in your midst, and I will not come in wrath.” – Hosea 11:8-9 (ESV)

I see the total opposite approach in the verses above. God has such an emotional relationship with Israel that He refuses to give up on them. Yes He is hurt and angry with them for their actions and betrayal, but His love for them will not allow Him to destroy or seek a replacement for them as seen in verse nine. God loves and cares for the nation of Israel and love is replicated with me as an heir to heaven thanks for the salvation I have accepted from him.

God pours Himself into me all the time. He blesses me, provides for me, and most of all He forgives me when I sin against Him. Unlike the bulk of the world that gives up on others, God’s compassionate, emotional relationship with me does not allow Him to give up on me, His love only grows stronger and is more evident.

When you look at the relationships you have, what actions do you have when something goes awry? Are you one that looks for replacements to the machines that you work with? What if you were to dig into your compassion as God does and demonstrate your emotional relationship with others to repair them?

This morning as I was studying in Lamentations the word “compassion” I was reminded of a comparison to God’s approach with us to my approach and actions with those around me, namely my family. As I have made public a number of times, my mission is “To improve lives through growth and learning as and example of Christ’s love”. I ask for things a number of times, recognizing that what I am looking for may not be high on the priority list of others at the time. When what I am asking for becomes critical, I ratchet up my asks and become a bit more assertive, dare I say demanding, to “light a fire under someone”. This is all in the interest of impacting the movement to accomplish something. Christ was very patient in His approach to others, however when things were not being done accordingly, He would ratchet up His approach to get things done.

“³¹For the Lord will not cast off forever, ³²but, though he cause grief, he will have compassion according to the abundance of his steadfast love; ³³for he does not afflict from his heart or grieve the children of men.” – Lamentations 3:31-33 (ESV)

In the passage this morning, I see the what God does not do in verses 31 and 33 above. I feel like a lot of the time I only see the first part of verse 32, “though he cause grief” and then I wonder why He would do such a thing. As I read in the commentary of my ESV Bible, “God’s first instinct is not to punish, he does so only when his patience with sinners does not lead to their repentance.” God does what He does to impact change in my life. He assists me in creating discipline so that He does not have to discipline me.

My asking for others to take action prior to asserting the action “need” to take place is my use of God’s example of working to create discipline in the lives of others so that they can avoid being disciplined for inaction later. No, I do not consciously think this way, at least I don’t think I do. I have to remember that God’s compassionate love and actions are to impact change in others and I should continue to think of the impact I can/can have on others by seeking to live out my mission.

Out there in the world, what approach are you taking with others? Are you out for yourself without thought or concern for those around you? What if you took God’s compassionate approach to instill discipline in others to aid them in avoiding discipline later?

“⁷’For a brief moment I deserted you, but with great compassion I will gather you. ⁸In overflowing anger for a moment I hid my face from you, but with everlasting love I will have compassion on you,” says the LORD, your Redeemer.” – Isaiah 54:7-8 (ESV)

Will God be disappointed in me and my actions, yes. Will He turn away from me, yes. Will it be forever and abandoning of me, NO. And I capitalized on purpose. God will never abandon me. He is with me always even in those times when I am not following His plan for me or not doing the tasks He has for me.

Notice the words from God in the verses above, “for a brief moment” and “for a moment”. God may shake His head at those things that I do that are less than becoming. As a father, I have those moments when I wonder what my boys were thinking to get themselves into something. I stand there shaking my head and hide in my hands in “the moment”. But, in the next moment I am picking them up and dusting them off in a show of compassion and love for them so that they know they are my child. God does the same with us. He looks down to see me make the mistake and shakes His head only to then reach down and help me up. He is forever my father and demonstrates His compassion and love for me at every turn.

When you find yourself in a tough spot, what are you feeling? Are you thinking that you are all alone? What if you were to lean on God, knowing that He saw you, shook His head in disbelief and then was reaching down to help you up?

I have seen instances where the winner of a contest has consoled those that were not on the winning side. An example is a baseball game that was finished with the pitcher besting the hitter that was a former teammate and friend. While the winning team celebrated the pitcher immediately, without hesitation, went to the hitter, his friend to console him in the loss. All other things of the situation took a back seat to the relationship between the two. This is compassion in action.

“¹³Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people and will have compassion on his afflicted.” – Isaiah 49:13 (ESV)

Notice the compassion of God demonstrated, not on the winners, but on those that are defeated by Him. God wins and when He does, He is understand to those that suffered in the instance, showing comfort to those on the “winning” side, and those that are defeated He shows compassion.

I have to remember the compassionate part of God’s actions here. It is good to be on the winning side of things, but on the other side there is heartache and sadness. It is up to me to bring love and compassion to those. It is not the time for boasting, but a time for caring. It is the time to truly demonstrate the example of God’s love. I am to live out the compassion that the Lord gives.

I have to remember also that the afflicted as noted in the verse above is not just those that are defeated in the instance where I may be considered the victor and they not. The afflicted are those that may be seen as disadvantaged and in need. It is my duty to show compassion for them and do that which is unexpected and contrary to the societal norms. Like the pitcher who did not celebrate the win right away, but immediately consoled his friend while the rest of the participants celebrated or mourned the outcome of the contest.

When you are engaged in a scenario, what is your feeling toward those on the other side? As the “victor” are you conscious of the feelings and emotions of those that are not the “victors”? What if you were to show the compassion of the Lord to all those on the other side of your situation as opposed to only thinking of your own side?

“¹³As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him.” – Psalm 103:13 (ESV)

As a father, my role is to prepare my boys for what is to come for them. I am to care for, protect, celebrate with, and teach them so that they are able to carry forward as contributing heirs of God. I am to ensure that they have learned to do the work that God has for them in their lives. I am here to be their earthly example of what love is so that they are able to be the earthly example of what love is as they grow into who God has for them to be.

God is my example that I draw on for my role in the lives of my boys. The compassion that I have for them is modeled after the compassion shown me by God. I need just as my boys need and I get mine as an adult from God each day. My time is limited here in this world and I can be taken from this world at any moment. It is my duty to draw on the example of God’s compassion and be sure that my boys will receive it until they transition to receiving from God as I do now.

I have accepted salvation and owe my life to Christ who died for me. Now there is an example of demonstrated compassion. The LORD is my heavenly father who has a great compassion for me and all of my brothers and sisters that “fear him”. For all of us, we have His example to draw from and cascade to others. For me it starts with my boys and to those that are immediately in my life. It is my role to demonstrate the compassion of the LORD to all of those. I am to give to all without expectation of anything in return. I am to love unconditionally and know that I have done the work God has for me in this world.

In this world, what compassion have you been able to give to others? Are you even looking to do so and where are you drawing that compassion from? What if you were to use the compassion of God as your example and give the same that you have been given?

I have sinned and/or done wrong by/against someone. In some instances, I may have done so without even knowing. I may have been just carrying on and did not even realize that someone or God was gone against. These things happen and largely, I/we don’t recognize them. Other times, I have consciously committed sins or wrongs. How am I to handle either situation?

“⁶Speak to the people of Israel, When a man or woman commits any of the sins that people commit by breaking faith with the LORD, and that person realizes his guilt, ⁷he shall confess his sin that he has committed. And he shall make full restitution for his wrong, adding a fifth to it and giving it to him to whom he did the wrong.” – Numbers 5:6-7 (ESV)

Both situations are referenced in the above verses as the LORD speaks to Moses. I see in verse 7 that “he shall confess his sin”. The first thing that should be done is to confess the sin or wrong that has been committed. Yes, there may be times that I am unaware of my wrong or sin, and that is where verse 6 comes in. We have to be receptive when someone brings that wrong or sin to us. I have to acknowledge the wrong or sin so that I am able to confess to that which I have committed.

Once the confession has taken place, I am to be just getting started. It is one thing to say “sorry for my actions and forgive me”, it is something else to “make full restitution” for that which I have done. I am now responsible for not only acknowledging and seeking forgiveness, but I have to “restore them to the place they were” as I have written in my Bible. I have to make them whole again. I am responsible for tearing them down, and I am responsible to build back up once I realize that which I have done. This goes for God and man alike. I will sin and whereas God is bigger than I am and more forgiving, I have to work to restore the relationship with Him that I have damaged with my sin.

And now for the final action. The one that I know that I forget about and needed the reminder this morning. I have to not only make them whole, but I also should be “adding a fifth” or, adding to the one I have committed against to have “them be better off than before” as I again have written in my Bible. I know it seems like I have done my work to even things, but I had taken something and they had to do without for a time. I have to return them to where they were and then supply interest for that which they missed out. No, I do not have to “give them money” to make them more. It is about not just restoring them, but building them up. I have given back to them, now I have to give more to demonstrate my commitment to knowing I was wrong and being better as I go forward.

I have to be committed to doing the right thing and more when I have done the wrong thing. It is my “penance” if you will for the actions that I took against. When I do wrong, I am responsible for restoration and improvement once realizing the wrong.

What wrongs are you aware, or not, that you have committed? Have you been wondering of what to do now? What if you were to approach as the LORD says to Moses, confess, restore and build up?

I remember the many times I have been in an audience or congregation, on the receiving end of a speech, presentation, or sermon and the one speaking asks for some sort of audible response from us. That response is quiet and less than inspired. At which the speaker just looks out and makes a comment about the weak response or simply asks the group for more conviction in their response. Once I have given a heartier response I feel the conviction and commitment to take action related to the ask of the speaker.

In another example, committing to something is more concrete when it is written down for all to see. I may think that I want to work on something in my life, but until I write it down for all or at least some to see, it is just as thought and therefore there is no commitment or accountability to take action. Once I have let someone else know of the action I would like to take, they others are free to hold me to taking action and let me know when I am or have missed the mark.

“⁴⁶Then Jesus, calling out with a loud voice, said, ‘Father, into your hands I commit my spirit!’ And having said this he breathed his last.” – Luke 23:46 (ESV)

This verse is from and the death of Jesus. Notice His “calling out with a loud voice”. He was speaking to God, His Father and was not concerned with who heard Him as there were many watching on. Jesus wanted to make sure that God heard His cry and commitment to what was happening. Earlier, before even His arrest, Jesus committed out loud to go through with His death as instructed and a part of the plan laid out for Him.

“⁴¹And he withdrew from them about a stone’s throw, and knelt down and prayed, ⁴²saying, ‘Father, if you are willing, remove this cup from me. Nevertheless, not my will, but yours, be done.’ ⁴³And there appeared to him an angel from heaven, strengthening him. ⁴⁴And being in agony he prayed more earnestly; and his sweat became like great drops of blood falling down to the ground.” – Luke 22:41-44 (ESV)

Jesus did not lack for the commitment and especially out loud. Notice the audible commitment to follow God’s will, “saying,…not my will, but yours”. Jesus committed out loud to take action, even when that action meant additional or more excruciating suffering, “And being in agony”.

I have work to do in my commitments, and especially those commitments made to and around my relationship with Christ. First, I have to make those commitments and then secondly, I have to make those commitments for all to see in a public place or at least out loud or written down. I have to be willing to let everyone know so that they can help me accomplish that which I have committed to undertake. I have to continue to remember that public commitment I made to Christ with my baptism so many years ago. I have been washed clean and I have to start acting like it, and I need your help.

What about your commitments, which of them are you willing to make out loud? Are you keeping them to yourself to avoid them? What if you were to publicly announce your commitments to Christ so others could assist you in taking action?

Just because I do not take the outward action on something does not mean that I was not involved nor am I devoid of accountability.

“²⁸But I say to you that everyone who looks at a woman with lustful intent has already committed adultery with her in his heart.” – Matthew 5:28 (ESV)

As I am reading this morning I am reminded that even with my thoughts of impropriety, I have already begun. My mind is a powerful thing, so much so that it will lead to things of the heart and once those things enter into the heart, I have sinned and am responsible for them just as if I had done them outwardly.

It is up to me to understand what the “rules” or “laws” are and then it is my responsibility to know when I am being led to go outside of them.

“²⁷You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’” – Matthew 5:27 (ESV)

Jesus reminds us of the “law” or “Commandment” in the case of adultery and then in verse 28 reminds us of the fact that the action contrary is committed even before the action is take outwardly. The same holds true for all others.

Just thinking of something does not make it a sin or against, it is when those thoughts enter into the heart and there is the thoughts of how to make them happen that leads to the sin. I can admire a beautiful woman, but I have to stop there before I begin to think of how to “get with her”. When I know and understand the “law” and “rules” I will know and understand when I am going down the path to break them. Once the thought enters my mind, it is my responsibility to rationally think about that and decide to turn and go the other way before that enters into my heart committing to the breaking of or action against that “law” or “rule”. I must take the opportunity to turn to God for His guidance and directions so that I am able to repent now and avoid the negative consequences that come with the decision to “commit” the act.

What things have you allowed to enter your heart that you may not have taken outward action on? Were you aware that just allowing the though to enter your heart and your thought on how to get away with it has generated the committing of the action? What if you were to recognize the thought and turn to God and allow Him to guide you away from the thought so as to not allow it to even reach your heart?

Committing to God is obviously the thing to do. As noted in the 1^st commandment, you shall have no gods other than He. But there is another part to the committing.

“⁵Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” – Psalm 37:5 (ESV)

It is about committing our way to Him, not just committing to Him. All that I do should be directed at Him to accomplish the work He has for me. The self serving way is past for me as a follower of Christ. I am to be Christ Serving. I have to commit all that I do to Him and His glory.

Why, simply because that is what I am instructed to do. I admit that I struggle with the idea that what I receive for the work I am doing is not something that I am able to touch or see right now. In fact, I question whether or not I am on the right path, because frankly, I am seeing less and less in this world even when I feel as though I am doing more and more. I feel as though I give and give and get nothing in return except more work is expected. Meanwhile those that I am giving to are receiving their rewards and I am left out in the cold only to be given more work.

“⁶He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.” – Psalm 37:6 (ESV)

And that is why I do what I do. I have to remember that the goal is to bring glory to God and I can only do that if I am committing myself and my way to Him fully. I have to look forward and not in the now or the past for what I am doing the work for. I am doing the work of God and He will make sure that work is fruitful. No, I may not get to see that which comes from my planting work. I may be gone before that happens. But I have to commit to doing the work and know that God will bring His glory where it needs to be.

What struggles are you having committing your way to the Lord? Are you still looking for the WIIFM (What’s In It For Me)? What if you committed yourself and your way to the Lord and allowed Him to manifest His glory and blessing where it should go?