And the camel swallowing goes on today. We can attend church religiously. We can tithe correctly, serve and lead ministries and still on the most basic elements of grace and mercy we can fall short with gossip. We can get so hung up on the gnats that we do not even see the camel in our glass. Sowing discord amongst the brethren is serious business for God. As long as Christ is our unifying principle, God expects us to be unified.
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, - Philippians 1: 27 (ESV)
We all have the same Holy Spirit of God if we are born again believers. The Holy Spirit as previously noted is actually grieved by gossip because He knows that it embodies all seven of the things that God hates. The Holy Spirit wants us striving together with one mind -- focused on Jesus. Standing side by side for the Gospel and the Gospel alone. I know how difficult this teaching is because like you, I have been on both sides of the gossip coin. I have been hurt badly by people I thought I trusted who have spread lies and inaccurate innuendo about me. I have also found myself saying more than I should because my mouth occasionally gets ahead of my brain. More accurately, my flesh gets ahead of my Spirit. Let us never forget what God Almighty hates and let us strive desperately to avoid the bitter poison of gossip for all of the reasons we have been warned about. In Jesus name, amen.
Reverend Anthony Wade -- July 11, 2012
