The Power of Silence: One Year Bible Reading for July 1

 Today we read from these verses in the One Year Bible:

2 Kings 18:13-19:37
Acts 21:1-17
Psalm 149:1-9
Proverbs 18:8

Let's look at the Proverb. Thankfully, it's not about bribes. I slipped the writer a couple bucks so he would stop writing about bribes all the time.

But what we ARE talking about today is gossip. It's SO EASY to fall into the trap of gossip. If you have friends, and your friends are involved in any kind of activity, the potential for gossip becomes evident. So what can we do? 

One, we can pray for the people we're tempted to gossip about. That helps us see them as real people with needs and pain rather than just the subject of juicy stories.

Two, we can use silence. Silence is very powerful. If someone starts gossiping to you, just remain quiet. Often they'll change the subject themselves, or they'll start defending the person they were just attacking. But in any case, keeping silent prevents you from being drug into the gossiping.

This is a powerful truth to let sink into your mind: when you gossip, you are usually guilty of a greater sin than the person you're talking about. Much gossip is about activities of a sexual nature. And sexual sins are some of the least serious and easiest to remedy. But gossip is built on pride, and pride is the chief and worst sin, and the most difficult to remedy. So remind yourself next time you're tempted to gossip that the one who gossips is usually guilty of a more serious sin than the subject of the gossip. 

But keep the power of silence in your mind. Throughout your day, allowing silence to exist in your mind and in your environment often allows God to speak in His still, small voice.

God, thanks for teaching us the power of silence.