Forgiven Failure: Speaking against Jesus

And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man, it will be forgiven him; but he who blasphemes against the Holy Spirit, it will not be forgiven him. When they bring you before the synagogues and the rulers and the authorities, do not worry about how or what you are to speak in your defense, or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say." (Luke 12:10-12 NASB)

Peter's three-fold denial of Christ was only a few hours away, but it was no secret to Jesus. We see here how tenderly He prepares the way for Peter's repentance and restoration. "Everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Man (which Peter was soon to do), it will be forgiven him." Jesus intended to hold those who were His own until the very end. 

I wonder if Peter remembered these words after the cock crowed. Did he consider whether or not he could be forgiven? Peter's failure was so devastating to him that he avoided his fellow disciples. His shame isolated him and robbed him of the forgiveness and love he so desperately needed. It was Jesus who sought him out, who brought him back. Peter had spoken against Jesus, but forgiveness was available from the very One he had wronged. 

That's good news for me, because I, too, will fail Jesus with both my life and my words, and do so far too often. Forgiveness was bought at a terrible price. I should not take it casually, as if it were of no consequence, but I should not avoid forgiveness because of its great price.


We've all failed our Lord and will do so again because of the battle between sin and righteousness that wages within us. We may lose a skirmish in the war against sin, but we do not have to stay defeated. Forgiveness is available.

The remainder of this passage contains some hard words, and we will deal with them tomorrow. For today, let's praise God that our failures can be forgiven and our sin-fractured relationship with Christ can be restored.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord. (1 Corinthians 15:56-58 NASB)

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Thank you, Lord, for the promise of forgiveness. I admit my failure and the words that I have used to deny You. Forgive me and restore me to relationship with You. In Jesus name, Amen.

Think Before You Speak

plotting against Him to catch Him in something He might say. (Luke 11:54 NASB)

After nearly 160 blog posts on Luke 11, I expected to begin Luke 12 today. It's probably no surprise that, as I was reading Luke 11 one more time this morning to be sure we had gathered all the good, I found one more little nugget.

I read this last verse and could hear my mama saying, "Young lady, you need to watch what you say," and "Not everything that comes in your head needs to come out your mouth." Exactly. It's a shame that she had to tell me that so many times, but she did. If you've spent much time with me, you may think I haven't improved much. The sad thing is that, as blunt and opinionated as I am, I'm less vocal than I used to be. I am, however, like you, still a work in progress.  

The scribes/lawyers and Pharisees knew that the easiest way to discredit someone was to take something they said out of context and expose them to public ridicule. Since Jesus spoke daily to crowds of people, he said many words. Already, the scribes and Pharisees were unhappy (to put it mildly) about the words He had just said to them. (Admittedly, I might not have been happy if Jesus had told me that I carried the stench of death in my actions, either.) When anger became action, the scribes and Pharisees' first scheme was to catch Him in something He said. They were sure that they could destroy Him with His own words. 

The Pharisees and scribes understood something that I seem to forget sometimes. My words have great power. I can bless with them and I can curse with them. (James 3) Since I have a choice about the words I use and the way I say them, I need to choose wisely. Do I "speak curses" against others? I'd like to say that I never do that, but if I say negative things about others that cause people to adopt my same negative attitude, I have, in a way, spoken a curse against them. I have harmed them with my words.

If I spread the latest tidbit of news about someone or share a secret best kept, I have harmed them with my words. James wrote that the same tongue that blessed God in worship should not be used to curse (or harm) others in public, and I need to remember that.

My grandmother used to say, "If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." I would do well to remember her words, and so would we all. The Pharisees were right. The quickest way to discredit a man or woman of God is to catch them saying something intemperate and use those words against them. Let's be sure we think before we speak, temper our words with kindness, and say only those words we would be happy for Jesus, who knows every word we speak, to hear.

This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.

If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. (James 1:19-20, 26 NASB)

Dealing with unclean spirits, part 3: thinking before we speak

But some of them said, "He casts out demons by Beelzebul, the ruler of the demons."

But He knew their thoughts and said to them, "Any kingdom divided against itself is laid waste; and a house divided against itself falls. If Satan also is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that I cast out demons by Beelzebul. And if I by Beelzebul cast out demons, by whom do your sons cast them out? So they will be your judges. (Luke 11:15, 17-19 NASB)

Jesus had just cast out a demon from a man in whom it had caused muteness. When Jesus cast out the demon, the man began to speak. Some people were amazed by the miracle but some people said that His power came from Beelzebul (the devil). Jesus knew what they were thinking and responded to their poorly considered arguments. 

"If the kingdom of demons is involved in a civil war (divided against itself), how will it continue?" He asked. (This is the Leanna paraphrase) "If Satan is divided in a civil war against himself, how will his kingdom endure?" Jesus was telling them that their arguments didn't make sense. 

Their arguments were not only illogical, but, in their arguing against Jesus, they had failed to consider that their sons (or descendants) also cast out demons. "If I cast out demons by the power of Beelzebul, by what power do your sons cast them out?" Jesus was saying, "You need to think this argument through before you make it."

In their emotional response to Jesus, those arguing against Him had failed to thoroughly consider their argument to its natural conclusion. If what they said against Jesus were true, then it was also true against them, because they did much the same thing.

It is easy to respond to issues and current events in an emotional manner on the spur of the moment without thoroughly considering my rationale and without being adequately informed. When I do that, however, I look as foolish as the naysayers in Jesus' time, and am easily disputed. Instead, I need to do what my mama told me. Think before I speak.

Although we walk by faith and not by sight, we cannot simply attack the issues of our day without knowing truth. Mistaking quotes from Benjamin Franklin for Scripture is a common error, yet it makes us look foolish when we do so. Accepting inflammatory posts on social media without checking for their validity is another common error that incites us to indignation and outbursts that make us look foolish in our ignorance. 

Certainly there are issues against which we should stand, and against which we should argue. We do not help the cause of Christ, however, when our arguments are based on emotion rather than truth. 

If those arguing against Jesus had considered their arguments a little closer, perhaps they would have seen things differently. Perhaps they could have refuted their own illogical ideas without looking foolish and could have seen the truth in the words of Jesus. In that same way, we must be informed on the issues of our day, the truth behind the stories, the validity of our causes before we argue with the world. 

Jesus told us that we would know the truth and the truth would set us free. (John 8:32) We do well to remember that the freedom in that promise begins with knowing the truth.