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Choose Forgiveness, Not Gossip
Let’s just admit it: When you have some crazy-maker in your life, and she’s just done the craziest thing again, it’s almost impossible not to get in the car, pull out your phone, and call somebody and say, “You won’t believe what she just did!”
Or, “You won’t believe what he just did!” In fact, you may even be texting as he’s doing it!
That’s what we do with crazy-makers. We want to tell somebody else. We want affirmation from somebody else. It’s the most difficult thing in the world to let go of it. It may feel good when we call someone to spread the word about the crazy-maker’s craziness, but it’s also unloving.
The Bible says to forgive even your enemies. Proverbs 17:9 says, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends” (NLT).
Gossip is incredibly destructive. It is destructive to churches, families, and businesses. It is destructive to your life. It tears you up. It separates the closest of friends.
The worst thing about gossip is that the crazy-maker wins! All of a sudden, your crazy-maker is controlling your conversation. The crazy-maker is controlling your emotions. Don’t let that person win! Don’t let the crazy-maker win by choosing gossip.
1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing” (NCV).
This devotional © 2014 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
Let’s just admit it: When you have some crazy-maker in your life, and she’s just done the craziest thing again, it’s almost impossible not to get in the car, pull out your phone, and call somebody and say, “You won’t believe what she just did!”
Or, “You won’t believe what he just did!” In fact, you may even be texting as he’s doing it!
That’s what we do with crazy-makers. We want to tell somebody else. We want affirmation from somebody else. It’s the most difficult thing in the world to let go of it. It may feel good when we call someone to spread the word about the crazy-maker’s craziness, but it’s also unloving.
The Bible says to forgive even your enemies. Proverbs 17:9 says, “Love prospers when a fault is forgiven, but dwelling on it separates close friends” (NLT).
Gossip is incredibly destructive. It is destructive to churches, families, and businesses. It is destructive to your life. It tears you up. It separates the closest of friends.
The worst thing about gossip is that the crazy-maker wins! All of a sudden, your crazy-maker is controlling your conversation. The crazy-maker is controlling your emotions. Don’t let that person win! Don’t let the crazy-maker win by choosing gossip.
1 Peter 3:9 says, “Do not do wrong to repay a wrong, and do not insult to repay an insult. But repay with a blessing, because you yourselves were called to do this so that you might receive a blessing” (NCV).
This devotional © 2014 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.
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About this Plan
In this series, Pastor Rick walks through the steps you can take to deal with the people in your life that make you crazy, and, in doing so, please the Lord. “When we please the Lord, even our enemies make friends with us” (Proverbs 16:7 CEV).
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