Marching Orders #411C... "No More Condemnation"

LET THE

SONSHINE

..."Your eyes light up your inward being.

A pure eye lets sunshine into your soul."

Luke 11:34a

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No More Condemnation

The following interesting "frog" story was forwarded to me by a good friend...

A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead.

The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump up out of the pit with all of their might. The other frogs kept telling them to stop, that they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.

The other frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. When he got out, the other frogs said, "Did you not hear us?" The frog explained to them that he was deaf. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time.

This story teaches two lessons. There is power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say.

Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of words... it is sometimes hard to understand that an encouraging word can go such a long way. So from this day forward, think before you speak.

Hummm, after reading this story I began to listen to some of my words towards others. For the most part, I'd like to think I do encourage others more often than not. But just today, another friend, again, brought to my attention the fact that I constantly tear down and condemn MYSELF! Well, right in the middle of our conversation, the Lord really convicted me.

Romans 8:1 says..."So there is now no condemnation for those who belong to Christ Jesus. For the power of the life-giving Spirit--and this power is mine through Christ Jesus--has freed me from the vicious circle of sin and death."

I realize that these verses are speaking of the sins that Paul was struggling with that he spoke about at the end of Chapter 7, however, I also realize that when we obey the Spirit we don't walk after the flesh and are able to overcome fleshly ways. And the things we speak will bring life, not only to OTHERS, but to OURSELVES. To constantly belittle ones self brings a pit of destruction, constant discouragement and instead of life, death. It is an alive and active old nature rising up in us causing us to sin and it does not please God. He has convicted me of the fact that when I tear myself down, I am not accepting the full atonement of Christ's shed blood for me. I'm still trying to be good enough to earn acceptance and salvation, and because I can't measure up, I tear myself down. He has paid for my EVERY fault and sin and I am accepted through the shed blood of Jesus. It is not by works of righteousness which I have done, but by His grace...(Ephesians 2:8,9) I will NEVER be GOOD ENOUGH to pay the price of faults and sin. This is not to say that we should not try to overcome faults and sins through repentance though.

I've tried to weigh why some of us belittle ourselves so often. Perhaps it is to get someone else to reassure us that we really are okay, hoping they will say, "Oh, no, you aren't like that at all, you're really a good person." As the scriptures say, "If Christ be for us, who can be against us?" We do not need any other person to confirm us. If Christ died for us while we were yet sinners, and has accepted us, we have no right condemning ourselves, for in doing so, we are in a sense, condemning His chosen ones, those He dearly loves and died for.

Lord, help each of us to more carefully weigh our words. Help us to speak life and encouragement to others, and not only to others, but also to ourselves. For You have said that we are the righteousness of God in Christ Jesus. Help us each to remember WHO we are in You, and forgive us for the condemnation that we have heaped upon ourselves and others, in Jesus' name. Amen

For myself, and any others that may be in the habit of belittling themselves, here is the Hebrew text of Zephaniah 3:17, amplified. As I am planning to do, perhaps reading this to OURSELVES, until we truly believe it, will help us come to the realization of just how much He loves us:

The eternal self-existent God, the God who is three in one, He who dwells in the center of your being is a powerful, valiant Warrior! He has come to set you free, to keep you safe and to bring you victory. His is cheered, and He beams with exceeding joy and takes pleasure in your presence. He has engraved a place for Himself in you and there He quietly rests in His love and affection for you. He cannot contain Himself at the thought of you and with the greatest of joy spins around wildly in anticipation over you and has placed you above all other creations and in the highest place in His priorities. In fact, He shouts and sings and triumphs joyfully proclaiming the gladness of His heart in a song of rejoicing all because of you! Hear the voice of the Lord as He sings over you, His child. (Zephaniah 3:17 paraphrased)

Do you think He wants us belittling someone He loves that much? I think not! And I'm gonna stop it...and turn a deaf ear to any future condemnation.

In Him, and He in me,

Marlene

MARCHING ORDERS #411-C

Marching orders are compiled from paraphrased verses out of the Living Bible.

No commentary is added...they are the pure Word of God.

"As Christ's soldier do not let yourself become tied up in worldly affairs, for then you cannot satisfy the one who enlisted you in his army." II Timothy 2:4 L/B

Don’t talk so much.

You keep putting your foot in your mouth.

Be sensible and turn off the flow.

Dear brothers, don’t ever forget that it is best to listen much, speak little, and not become angry. - It is better to be slow tempered than famous; it is better to have self control than to control an army. - If anyone can control his tongue, it proves that he has perfect control over himself in every other way.

Your words now reflect your fate then: either you will be justified by them or you will be condemned. - Help me, Lord, to keep my mouth shut and my lips sealed.

Christ, who suffered for you, is your example. Follow in his steps: He never sinned, never told a lie, never answered back when insulted; when he suffered he did not threaten to get even; he left his case in the hands of God who always judges fairly. - If you want to keep from becoming faint hearted and weary, think about his patience as sinful men did such terrible things to him.

No falsehood can be charged against them; they are blameless.

(Living Bible:)

Proverbs 10:19.

James 1:19. - Prov. 16:32. - James 3:2.

- Matt. 12:37. - Ps. 141:3.

I Pet. 2:21-23. - Heb. 12:3.

Revelation 14:5.

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