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[Lighthouse Daily Devotion] OUR TREATMENT OF OTHERS

LIGHTHOUSE DAILY DEVOTION
(Sent daily except Sunday)
(Some of the Devotions are original, some are adapted)
July 16, 2021

OUR TREATMENT OF OTHERS

Psalm 15:3 - “He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour.”

Today we see more of God’s requirements for those who will abide in His tabernacle or dwell in His holy hill. Today’s text has to do with our relationship with others, and particularly the way we treat our fellow man. The person who desires to walk in harmony with the Great Shepherd must be someone who “backbiteth not with his tongue.”  God will not bless those who slander and criticize others.

The tongue is a powerful tool for good, both in blessing and praising God, and in encouraging each other. However, the tongue can be equally destructive when it is used to damage the reputation of others or spread gossip. The wounds of the tongue can be difficult to heal. If a person has a problem with a brother or sister that requires reconciliation, he should go to the person in question, not discuss it behind his back with others. This is one of those sins that we sometimes have a tendency to excuse or minimize. However, God does not minimize it.

This text clearly emphasizes the importance of our relationship with others if we expect to have a close walk with the Lord. The person who is seeking a more intimate fellowship must not be one that “doeth evil to his neighbour.” There are many ways to do evil to our neighbor. Of course, taking into consideration the previous phrase, one way would be to speak evil of him. 

We are told to love our neighbor as ourselves. When we love our neighbor, we will be careful to protect his good name, as well as his property. It is evil to deliberately seek to harm others, even if they have done us wrong. The Bible tells us, “Recompense to no man evil for evil” (Romans 12:17). 

We should be slow to believe negative information about our brothers or sisters. To “take up” means “to receive as true or grasp and hold on to an evil report.” To the contrary, we should always hope for the best and believe the best about others. If there were no one to receive and pass along ill reports, ill reports would soon diminish.

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Wit and Wisdom – Kindness to our neighbors and friends will always bring forth fruit.

Point to Ponder – A husband is living proof that a wife can take a joke.
 

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