One leads to death and the other leads to life. In these troubled times, there are two ways to behave. Murmur, complain and speak evil, or put on the Armor of God and do battle in His strength. I can only imagine the pain and agony which precede a death by stoning. This seems to be the fate of our country at this moment, given the social unrest, accusations and blame shifting that is waging all around us.
Though it realizes it’s ultimate fate, the flesh, unless reigned in by the Spirit, always opts to throw stones. Yeshua/Jesus made this clear when He told the Pharisees that “whoever is without sin should cast the first stone” at the adulteress woman.
Now of course there are times when it is appropriate to stand up for my beliefs, to call out evil for the lying destroyer that it is, however at such a time I should stand on the Rock for not only will I be safe from flood and foe, but elevated to a position which allows the light of Christ to shine far brighter. Surely a lighthouse would do little good if built on the beach, rather it is far more effective if built high on a rocky cliff.
My spirit knows all this and yet my mind cannot always perceive of it for in response to all of the unfair, critical and downright evil things I see and hear, my first impulse is to pick up a stone and hurl my criticism at others. At such times, if I am right with the Lord, He will quickly remind me of the prophet Isaiah, when in response to having seen the Living God, cried out “woe is me for I am ruined, a man of unclean lips, living among a people of unclean lips! “
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