SATAN; A BAD EXAMPLE Proverbs 6: 16, 19

Satan; A Bad Example                                                        Proverbs 6: 16, 19

                      (You might be following him without realizing it.)

  16 "These six things doth the Lord hate, yea seven are an abomina-
         tion unto him..
  17. A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood.
  18.  An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in
        in running to mischief,
  19.  A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord 
         among brethren."   (kjv)

     One of the characteristics of Satan, the Devil, Lucifer,  and Prince
 of Darkness is a trait you and I exhibit at times.  Although we do not 
want to admit the possibility, we must understand it,  if we will  not be 
caught up in it.  Of the sins we may be guilty, with little shame is gos-
sip.  We know  Satan to be the  “Accuser of the brethren,”  and when 
we reduce that to it’s lowest common denominator, we find him a gos-
sip or slanderer.  These words are synonyms, and could be used inter-
changeably at times.  Also, the “Seven things the Lord hates” in Pro-
verbs includes;  “He who sows discord among brethren.”  As we look
into slander or gossip in this light it has an ominous feel.  Is gossip in 
truth, slander?  Does gossip or slander sow discord among brethren?  
If we gossip, slander or sow discord among brethren, does it make us 
ton be like Satan?  These questions must be answered in the affirma-
tive if we are honest with ourselves before Holy God who hates such 
as this.  We might go a step further and state;  most gossip is spread 
by persons who do not have first hand knowledge of the "facts" and 
may be  spreading false  statements  (lies) as well  as true.  Let’s put 
ourselves in  the theoretical  position of  spreading a hurtful story of
one who  is not  guilty of  the "lie."  Where then  does that  leave us?   
When we  are guilty of gossip,  we are included as being  performers 
from the  list of deeds  God hates.  We are in the position to  commit 
the crime of slander and we become a fellow-traveler with the enemy 
of  God,  Satan, who, according to God’s Word, is the father of  liars. 
To avoid  alienation from our  Lord and  alignment  with Satan,  prac-
cing gossip, here are some practical steps we must take:

1. Never repeat a negative or damaging story.
2. Never repeat anything you have not proved  true.
3. Upon hearing any story, ask for the source.
4. Before telling anything, consider your reaction
                            if you were the subject.
5. In everything you say always make sure it glorifies
                         our Heavenly Father.
6. Never betray a person who shares a confidence.
7. Become a person gossips avoid.
8. If you hear slander on anyone, ask the purveyor to
         accompany you to inform the object of the gossip.

There are other positive steps we may take to avoid  becoming 
caught up  in the practice of  retelling negative or  offensive tales.  
The most  important is to make a habit of  thinking on things that 
are,  in the Apostle Paul’s  Divinely inspired  words, “true,  noble, 
just, pure, lovely, good report ,” as  well  as “virtuous and  praise-
worthy.”   If  you  and  I  practice  this  discipline  it  will  keep  us 
from  considering the act of  passing  along stories unworthy of  a 
disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ. The best way to defeat negative 
is to saturate with positive. As we  practice  living in the presence 
of our Lord, Christ, the mundane or common will  lose it's appeal 
to us.  We will  find  joy  communicating  treasure from the Word 
of God instead of trash from word of mouth.  (Philippians 4: 8)

        edited 11.22.14, 2.21.15                                       donporter   10.29.12