No one says it better than God through the writings of the Apostle Paul:

1 Corinthians 13:1 If I speak in the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. 2 If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.

3 If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing.

4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. 5 It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

8 Love never fails.

Christian, tame your tongue– your light was meant for good, not arson.

I’ve been praying a long time on this one.  Hard words: Tame your tongue… (sigh).  Sometimes, I don’t like my role in the body of Christ too much. But, I understand now. I am a watchman of sorts. A semi-permeable membrane, one little person standing outside of the church with everyman’s Christian mission:  to let Christ’s light shine brightly from the Light of the World into a world of evil…while doing my level best to keep the fuel of an evil culture from mixing with it to burn the whole place down.  Through the prophet Micah, God spoke of a day when people would turn away from the ways of God.

Micah 7:1 What misery is mine! I am like one who gathers summer fruit at the gleaning of the vineyard; there is no cluster of grapes to eat, none of the early figs that I crave. 2 The godly have been swept from the land; not one upright man remains. All men lie in wait to shed blood; each hunts his brother with a net. 3 Both hands are skilled in doing evil; the ruler demands gifts, the judge accepts bribes, the powerful dictate what they desire– they all conspire together. 4 The best of them is like a brier, the most upright worse than a thorn hedge. The day of your watchmen has come, the day God visits you. Now is the time of their confusion. 5 Do not trust a neighbor; put no confidence in a friend. Even with her who lies in your embrace be careful of your words. 6 For a son dishonors his father, a daughter rises up against her mother, a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law– a man’s enemies are the members of his own household. 7 But as for me, I watch in hope for the LORD, I wait for God my Savior; my God will hear me.

Do you not see what’s happening?

Christians are losing track of words, losing sight and perspective, and worse, losing their light of witness.  Words, they’re spreading fire and propagating confusion.

James 3:5b Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark. 6 The tongue also is a fire, a world of evil among the parts of the body. It corrupts the whole person, sets the whole course of his life on fire, and is itself set on fire by hell.

Tame your tongue.  It’s not unloving to point that out. It’s what God also spoke to Ezekiel: Ezekiel 3:17 “Son of man, I have made you a watchman for the house of Israel; so hear the word I speak and give them warning from me. 18 When I say to a wicked man, ‘You will surely die,’ and you do not warn him or speak out to dissuade him from his evil ways in order to save his life, that wicked man will die for his sin, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 19 But if you do warn the wicked man and he does not turn from his wickedness or from his evil ways, he will die for his sin; but you will have saved yourself. 20 “Again, when a righteous man turns from his righteousness and does evil, and I put a stumbling block before him, he will die. Since you did not warn him, he will die for his sin. The righteous things he did will not be remembered, and I will hold you accountable for his blood. 21 But if you do warn the righteous man not to sin and he does not sin, he will surely live because he took warning, and you will have saved yourself.”

I am not perfect. I do not speak perfectly, but my heart genuinely wants to turn us all to the One who is perfect…and to remember what He has called us to do: Tell of Him, Jesus Christ, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

No Christian should choke his fellow man for 100 denarii (Matthew 18:28). 

Shouldn’t you have had mercy on your fellow servant just as I had on you?’ (Matthew 18:33)

From the lips of Jesus, about refusing to be merciful

“This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother or sister from your heart.” (Matthew 18:35)

Be one of those who watches in hope for the LORD, who waits for God as Savior, who trusts that God will hear his prayers, and will see his efforts as carefully speaking and spreading only the truth.

The point is simple really.  Good news saves people. May we all learn how to tame the tongue and use our light to tell words of hope…of the One who saves.

When I think of a virtue that is genuinely overlooked in the Christian world, it is appreciation of beauty. It’s why I saved the best for last in our series of Tiny Virtues for Exemplary Christian Living. Appreciation for what is beautiful is a divine quality that touches the soul in ways that words alone cannot. Think of it this way: we often exalt a study of the Word, which is important to be sure. But God didn’t create the Word. What does Scripture say? Jesus is the Word… made flesh. He was not created.

Beauty, however, is something God created for Himself, for His own pleasure, His own joy, and His own glory. Yes, God is beautiful, but His creative acts are wholly distinct from Himself. God is not creation. He is not in the trees, the flowers, the mountains, or the stars. Unlike pantheists, Christians do not believe that everything is God.

Christians believe there is God… and then there are things He made that He, frankly, didn’t have to make.

Why did God do it?

God created because He loves what is beautiful as a reflection of His glory.

How often do we think of what is beautiful in superficial ways: a pretty face, a nice outfit, a handsome hunk, high-end furniture, or a great looking car? Or maybe the lilt of the whippoorwill, the gargling sound of a wren, or the shriek of an owl? The twizzle steps of the ice skater or the elegance of a waltz? Each beautiful for what is visible or audible. But for God, beauty is deeper. It’s glory deep.

That’s why Scripture tells us that even when the earthly body of Jesus was not physically what we’d call beautiful (Isaiah 53:1-12), God’s Perfect Image bearer, Jesus Christ, had beauty that was deeper.  He’s the Son of God and yes, fully human, the Son of Man.  The Word teaches us that the beauty of any human no matter how old or young, how flawless or marred a physical body, how well dressed or ragged they look…that beauty exists because of God’s Image stamped in them.

Beyond the human, the beauty of any other created object is beautiful because of the beautiful mind in Whom it was conceived. And because of the joy He has in bringing it into being.

Psalm 27:4 One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek him in his temple.

Ponder today: What is beautiful in your life? Thank God for beauty in every place you find it.

Person of the day:  Beautiful you, a reflection of love with the Made by God stamp of beauty, His Image.

There is a perspective that Exemplary Christians know. It’s a view of eternity. Of seeing today in the light of forever. It’s not easy to develop this kind of perspective, but it’s well worth it. It’s a Tiny Virtue in which today melts away and all today’s sufferings become “light and momentary” as Paul calls them when they are viewed against the canvas of eternal glory. It’s the focus on eternity, forever in the virtuous heart, that becomes like the camera lens centering on future glory while our sufferings become the misty backdrop against which the glory shines.

For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. (2 Corinthians 4:17)

What kinds of things can we do to develop this eternal view?

Gratitude like the Samaritan had. Luke 17:12 As he was going into a village, ten men who had leprosy met him. They stood at a distance 13 and called out in a loud voice, “Jesus, Master, have pity on us!” 14 When he saw them, he said, “Go, show yourselves to the priests.” And as they went, they were cleansed. 15 One of them, when he saw he was healed, came back, praising God in a loud voice. 16 He threw himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him– and he was a Samaritan. 17 Jesus asked, “Were not all ten cleansed? Where are the other nine? 18 Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” 19 Then he said to him, “Rise and go; your faith has made you well.”

Prayer and an open heart like displayed by a woman named Lydia (Acts 16:13-15)

Patient bearing of difficulty like the entire Church at Smyrna (Revelation 2:8-11)

Perseverance in doing good and holding tightly to the Truth like the whole Church at Philadelphia (Revelation 3:7-13)

Ponder today: What does your camera’s lens focus upon?

Bible character of the day: a healed Samaritan leper

The last of the cluster virtues residing in the will for our series on Tiny Virtues would be those surrounding the idea of control. Oh, there are many facets clustered together, among which are self-control, knowing when to keep matters between you and God alone, how to keep confidences in a biblical way, avoid spreading gossip, and of course, the concept of modesty.

In an era of social media, we have lost sight of every element of self-control, privacy, and modesty. We’re a click-bait culture, acting like a fish swallowing anything that hits the surface. The problem is that there’s a hook and a net and a knife in the hand of one who’d like to serve us up fried.

God wants better for us. So self-control is a virtue that Paul spoke of often:

1 Thessalonians 5:1 Now, brothers, about times and dates we do not need to write to you, 2 for you know very well that the day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night. 3 While people are saying, “Peace and safety,” destruction will come on them suddenly, as labor pains on a pregnant woman, and they will not escape. 4 But you, brothers, are not in darkness so that this day should surprise you like a thief. 5 You are all sons of the light and sons of the day. We do not belong to the night or to the darkness. 6 So then, let us not be like others, who are asleep, but let us be alert and self-controlled. 7 For those who sleep, sleep at night, and those who get drunk, get drunk at night. 8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet. 9 For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation through our Lord Jesus Christ. 10 He died for us so that, whether we are awake or asleep, we may live together with him. 11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing. 12 Now we ask you, brothers, to respect those who work hard among you, who are over you in the Lord and who admonish you. 13 Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. 14 And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. 15 Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. 16 Be joyful always; 17 pray continually; 18 give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not put out the Spirit’s fire; 20 do not treat prophecies with contempt. 21 Test everything. Hold on to the good. 22 Avoid every kind of evil.

Ponder today: How well you’re living as a son of light and equipping yourself with self-control.

Bible character of the day: Paul

We’re coming to the conclusion soon of the Tiny Virtues series and today we’ll look at the virtue of intercession. There’s a difference between intercession and advocacy as it is currently presented in our culture. It’s not community activism or promotion of a social cause.

Rather, there is an element of tact and diplomacy evident in genuine biblical intercession and advocacy.

Intercession is when a powerful one upholds a powerless individual in the cause of righteousness.

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Two biblical examples also stand out to me: (1) the way Paul went to bat for Onesimus, the runaway slave in Philemon and (2) the way Joseph of Arimathea asked permission for the deceased body of Jesus. Both are examples of leadership, diplomacy, self-sacrifice, genuine righteousness, and tact. All these ideas are clustered together in the virtue of intercession.

It’s often said that character is seen best in how we treat those who can do nothing for us. It’s easy to treat people well when there’s a quid pro quo, a payback. But when someone can do absolutely nothing for you, but needs your help, what do you do?

The Exemplary Christian goes to bat for him or her…just like Paul did. Just like Joseph did.

This story of Joseph of Arimathea is told in all 4 Gospels….for a reason. Luke 23:50 Now there was a man named Joseph, a member of the Council, a good and upright man, 51 who had not consented to their decision and action. He came from the Judean town of Arimathea and he was waiting for the kingdom of God. 52 Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body. 53 Then he took it down, wrapped it in linen cloth and placed it in a tomb cut in the rock, one in which no one had yet been laid.

His is not a story of piling on with the rest of the Council. His is a story of diplomacy and intercession.

Ponder today: the last time you went to bat for someone who could not help himself. How can you tell when those around you are hurting? Do you judge them?  Do you expect a payback?  Whose heart can you refresh by intercession?

Bible characters of the day: Paul and Joseph of Arimathea

No one can argue with selfless charity. It’s a Tiny Virtue that blesses everyone.

Thank God that somewhere in the final days of the election season where everyone seems to be at odds with everyone else, a beautiful “cluster virtue” residing in the will that we can all agree upon still exists: the generous, selfless, charitable attitude toward those less fortunate.

2 Corinthians 8: 7 But just as you excel in everything– in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us–see that you also excel in this grace of giving…9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

I could go on at length, but I know some people may be tired of hearing about virtues and really want to get back to political infighting and character assassination, so I’ll keep it brief.

There was a woman named Tabitha who was also known as Dorcas (Acts 9:36-42). She’s listed as a disciple and did beautiful acts of charity for others. She died and the story unfolds: Acts 9:39 All the widows stood around Peter, crying and showing him the robes and other clothing that Dorcas had made while she was still with them.

Tabitha (Dorcas), known for her charity, is one of the few people brought back to life from the dead recorded in our New Testament.

What story would she have told us about the life after death and what she saw? What she learned about her life? What she learned about the value of charity?

I wonder if God raised her back to life…intentionally (of course!) in order to show us that acts of charity have an impact upon others we may not see during our lifetimes. Acts of charity are extraordinarily life-giving for the days of our lives and have a reward far beyond the time when our souls break free from the steely bonds of this tender earth.

Ponder today: the eternal reward of charity and the joy one knows this side of heaven for doing them.

Bible character of the day: Tabitha