Week Four | How to Have a Kosher Mouth
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Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus Online Biblical Study
Reading Assignment – Chapters 7 & 8
Listen to the Audio version | Reading Time: 4 minutes
It is a rare moment for me to say that Iโm speechless.
But I met my match in this assignment to discuss wielding the power of my tongue. I stared at an open Google doc with fingers poised to type that wouldnโt move if Iโm being completely honest. Usually, when I read a passage for a writing assignment, memories flood to the surface, and the Holy Spirit shows me a poignant example from my life to share.
When I considered my very un-kosher mouth, memories flooded in alright. But to share these things would have re-lit sparks in a forest that is experiencing new growth. So, I asked the Holy Spirit to reveal to me something personal that wouldnโt leave any more scorched earth.
How to Have a Kosher Mouth
And reveal, He did.
In Western culture, few people would disagree that slander, motzei shem ra, or outright lying falls into the category of sin. But other misuses of the words we say, as brought up in chapter seven of Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus, are more elusive. As my words reflected this expansion of understanding of the power of my tongue, it was like a crossing guard flipped a flashing stop sign right in front of my mouth.
As Lois stated on page 94, โJesusโ priority too was on what comes out of our lips rather than what goes into them.โ This teaching found its way into my mind and heart, within about 5 minutes after walking away from that blank Google doc.
In the midst of an ongoing drama in our family, I quickly found myself whining about the character and choices of one of my children. Mid-sentence, my tongue seized as I realized my lashon hara, evil tongue, wagged away. Previously, I hadnโt considered telling negative truths, described on page 96 as โunnecessary and damaging,โ to be rolled into the description of a lying tongue.
Pointing out othersโ downfalls behind their backs are careless fires that can be stamped out with careful evaluation. We are meant to lift and edify each other up with our speech. To do any less falls short of reflecting Christ in us.
We are also called to control our eye-rolling, smirking, and all other body language that speaks volumes even when no words are uttered. The โdust of lashon haraโ damages reputations just as readily as a misspoken word.
I donโt know about you my friend, but eye-rolling sarcasm seems connected directly to my unmoving tongue. Within about 15 minutes of walking away from my writerโs block, I rolled my eyes about said child and thus caught myself in unchecked sin. Mercy!
Loisโs quote from page 98, as we consider how difficult it is to change this behavior, is worth holding onto, โBecause nothing except our own vigilance is stopping us from uttering words that will wound loved ones and shatter our dearest relationships.โ This includes uttering those unspoken words portrayed through body language as well.
Guilty of stealing knowledge? Yeah . . . me too.
One other slippery slope Lois discussed in this chapter, convincing me to evaluate my habits, was learning about geneivat daโat: stealing knowledge. How many times have we looked at a product in a store but clicked on a popular online sales website to have a slightly less expensive version delivered to our doorsteps within a few days? Or invited someone we didnโt like to something only after we found out they couldnโt come?
I appreciate the candor of this chapter and leave Loisโs words convicted to manage not only my tongue with more precision but my body language, mind, and actions. We have much to learn from Jewish sages that expand our understanding and guide our actions.
Sisters, letโs strive to be like Loisโs friend who decided to watch her words and later โfelt as if she had gone on a tone-up and workout plan for the soul.โ Letโs spell out and speak blessing to those we interact with our wordsโor non-verbal actionsโand live out these words from Psalm 34:12-13, NIV: Whoever of you loves life and desires to see many good days, keep your tongue from evil and your lips from telling lies.
TODAY WE LEARNED:
1. Having a kosher mouth is challenging!
2. Our words as well as body language and actions can lead us down the wrong pathโor the right one.
3. Itโs important to keep our tongues and lips from destroying another person.
ANSWER THIS IN THE COMMENTS BELOW:
Which of these were most convicting to learn about and why: the evil tongue, the dust of the evil tongue, or stealing knowledge?
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Walking in the Dust of Rabbi Jesus | Lois Tverberg
A 7-week study that will challenge you to follow Rabbi Jesus more closely by re-examining His words in the light of their Jewish context, to provide a richer, deeper understanding of His ministry, compelling us to live differently, and to begin to understand why His first Jewish disciples abandoned everything to follow him, to live out His commands.