I’m at the end of covering online bullying today and I’d just like to wrap up the installment with the following verses and thoughts:
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” Jesus replied, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’ All the law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” Matthew 22:36-40
It’s pretty simple. Love your neighbor as yourself. Speak to others as you would like to be spoken to. Address them in a manner you would desire to be addressed. As I mentioned before, is there a time and a place for a rebuke or word of reproof? Yes. Will it feel good? No. But if done in the right spirit, from the right source, and for the right reasons, it stands a much greater chance of being received. If your rebuke is full of inaccurate assumptions, insulting remarks, untruthful statements, unfair labels, and an arrogant attitude, forget it. Obviously, your source is not Christ and is therefore not backed up by love, because God is love and the fruit of your rebuke should concur with what is pleasing to God: justice, truth, mercy, and humility (and lets not forget all the fruits of the Spirit).
Brethren, even if anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another. For each one will bear his own load. The one who is taught the word is to share all good things with the one who teaches him. Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap. For the one who sows to his own flesh will from the flesh reap corruption, but the one who sows to the Spirit will from the Spirit reap eternal life. Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith. Galatians 6:1-10
If your brother sins, go and show him his fault in private; if he listens to you, you have won your brother. But if he does not listen to you, take one or two more with you, so that by the mouth of two or three witnesses every fact may be confirmed. If he refuses to listen, tell it to the church; and if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector. Matthew 18:15-17
As much as possible, we are told to be at peace with all men. When we’re picking fights, we’re not following orders. If we’re all on the same side, why are we fighting among ourselves? And why aren’t we using the opportunities we have throughout the day to do good to one another instead of harm?
I’ve really appreciated the time I’ve gotten to spend looking at scriptures about our speech and how we treat one another. It’s been good for me and refined my heart in the process. I hope you have a wonderful day thinking on the things God wants us thinking about and walking in a manner worthy of His calling! God bless you! :-)
Peace,
~ Adriel ~
I had some additional thoughts to add to my video today, so I’m just adding them here on my blog post for today.