There is a fire burning. What's your fuel?

Proverbs 26:20-22(NASB) from the daily reading in the One Year Bible

For lack of wood the fire goes out,
And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down.
²¹ Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire,
So is a contentious man to kindle strife.
²² The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels,
And they go down into the innermost parts of the body.

In Galatians 5:19-21 it says: Now the deeds of the flesh are evident, which are: immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20idolatry, sorcery, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, 21envying, drunkenness, carousing, and things like these, of which I forewarn you, just as I have forewarned you, that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.…     In 2 Corinthians 2:20 Paul writes: I am afraid that perhaps when I come I may find you to be not what I wish and may be found by you to be not what you wish; that perhaps there will be strife, jealousy, angry tempers, disputes, slanders, gossip, arrogance, disturbances.       So we see again that the condition of the heart of man has really not changed from Old Testament times to our present day. There is an entire industry which devoted to perpetuating gossip, particularly as it relates to entertainers, athletes, politicians or anyone else in the public eye.  Proverbs says:  The words of a whisperer are like dainty morsels, And they go down into the innermost parts of the body. While those who spread and perpetuate gossip are responsible for what they say, those who listen to gossip should understand that what we hear feeds our soul and our heart. There is a saying, “you are what you eat”, in much the same way our hearts, our minds and our attitudes are affected by what we hear.

Unfortunately gossip is as much of a problem in the church, among believers as it is in the world. Many times even the church prayer chain can be used to relay the gossip. That doesn’t mean we should eliminate the prayer chain, but we as believers are accountable to not perpetuate gossip. We need to understand the depths of darkness that can be included in gossip.  One of the names of satan, in the Bible is accuser of the brethren. Sin and evil has no place in the heavenly realm, in the presence of God. As believers we do have access to God’s presence, we are told to: come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need. (Hebrews 4:16) When we go before God with gossip about other believers we are actually doing the work of the accuser of the brethren. We take the accusations of satan to God. Additionally those things are not presented at the throne of grace, but rather at the judgment seat. Gossip brings these negative things to God for His judgment. The result of that falls on the one who brings it.  “Do not judge so that you will not be judged. ² For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. (Matthew 7:1-2) The heart of our prayer, our communication with God about others and the heart of our communication with others should be centered on restoration. Galatians 6:1 says:  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. Gossip is intended to tear others down. We as believers should seek to lift them up. We should present them to the throne of grace, seeking mercy not judgment.

The proverb also says: For lack of wood the fire goes out, And where there is no whisperer, contention quiets down. ²¹ Like charcoal to hot embers and wood to fire, So is a contentious man to kindle strife. Again contention and strife are very present in our culture, our society and sadly in the church. It seems that some people are not happy unless there is strife and contention in their lives.  Galatians names; enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, and envying, among the deeds of the flesh, so it is no surprise that they are present in the world, but believers need to recognize that these things are no small matter. They are grave sins.  Paul says: that those who practice such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.…  We, as believers, still struggle with the flesh. Paul says of himself: I am not practicing what I would like to do, but I am doing the very thing I hate…  ¹⁸ For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. ¹⁹ For the good that I want, I do not do, but I practice the very evil that I do not want. There is a difference between falling to temptation, something we all unfortunately will do at times, and practicing sinful behavior. Practice is something we do repeatedly so that it becomes easier, more normal and natural. Just as an athlete practices things over and over in order to create muscle memory and make those actions easier and natural, so too do we create spiritual muscle memory by the things we practice. If we practice the deeds of the flesh, including, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, and envying, we will get better at doing those things. They will become quite natural.

The spirit and the flesh are at war within each one of us. Galatians 5:25 says:  If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.  Walking in the spirit does not come easily or naturally, it requires practice. The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control. How much better will our lives be as we practice these things? The proverb says:  “For lack of wood the fire goes out.” Hebrews 12:28-29 says: Therefore, since we receive a kingdom which cannot be shaken, let us show gratitude, by which we may offer to God an acceptable service with reverence and awe; 29for our God is a consuming fire. Which fire do we choose to feed and fuel, the fire of contentious living or the consuming fire of our God, which burns away all that is unholy in our lives?

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit burn away all that is unholy and unrighteous in and from my life. Forgive me where I have practiced gossip, enmities, strife, jealousy, outbursts of anger, disputes, dissensions, factions, and envying  Through the cross of Christ I have been given victory over my flesh. . I choose to fuel the fire of You, the all consuming God, with all that is of my flesh.  Holy Spirit, empower me and enable me to live and walk by the Spirit. I choose to practice and cultivate the fruit of the Spirit in my life. I choose to live and walk in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.  Thank You that in You this is possible. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.   Amen.