Parrot

I knew a bird once upon a time. Everything that it heard said it would repeat it. Some were good words, some acceptable and some bad. It perched in a local market where an assortment of verbiage was spoken before it. Oft times it would utter such words to the offense of more delicate ears. Most everyone stopped to teach new words. It was a gossiper; often repeating things that it overheard. It became so unsatisfactory in its habit that the keeper of the store was forced to move it to the back of the store. There it mocked dogs, other birds and sang “Polly wants a cracker.” If we can’t bridle our tongue, refraining from gossiping, then learn to sing “Polly wants a cracker,” or keep quite. It seems people cannot be content to contain the ill reported things. They often do not retain them. But, like a mocking bird chatter them everywhere they go. The GOOD news of Christ’s love in closed within trembling lips. God is not pleased.

Romans 1: 2 “8 And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; 29 Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, 30 Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, 31 Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: 32 Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

Proverbs 18:8 “The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.”

Proverbs 20:19 “He that goeth about as a talebearer revealeth secrets: therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips.”

Matthew 15:19 “For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, adulteries, fornications, thefts, false witness, blasphemies:”

James 3:8 “But the tongue can no man tame; it is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.”

Leviticus 19:16 “Thou shalt not go up and down as a talebearer among thy people: neither shalt thou stand against the blood of thy neighbour: I am the Lord.”

James 3:6 “And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

James 1:26 “If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion is vain.”

Romans 3: 13 “Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:

Galatians 6:3 “For if a man think himself to be something, when he is nothing, he deceiveth himself.

These and many more guide lines caution us about gossop. If a thitruth, it passes through only a very few before it is distorted to enhance its inoact upon the hearer and becomes lying gossip. We are not to dwell upon these things we hear from each other but rather obey God’s word!

Phillippians 4: 8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. (1 John 4:16) “And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” (1 Peter 3:10) ”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:”

The stories of COVID-9) spread and become distorted. Panic results and fear ensues. Friends, don’t be tale carriers but Know God, know peace. Amen. 04-17-2020 BLL