“Whoever hides hatred has lying lips, and whoever spreads slander is a fool.”  ~Proverbs 10:18 (NKJV)

Have you ever “fallen prey” to negativism, slander, gossip?  Are there certain people in your life who seem to “pull you into” their issues? 

You know what I mean…..something is not an “issue” for you until you talk to someone else who has “issue”.  Then, all of a sudden, you find yourself frustrated, upset, and possibly even angry. 

I’ve had this happen to me at times…..

I’ve been the one who has taken on someone else’s issue, become the “mouth piece”, and made a fool of myself ,while the person whose issue it really was sat back and ended up looking like the sweet, spiritual one among the group. 

I’ve also been on the receiving end of this action, where someone else took up another person’s issue against me and exploded on me without knowing all the details surrounding a situation.

No matter the circumstance, Matthew 18:15-16 is very clear when it says, “If a fellow believer hurts you, go and tell him – work it out between the two of you.  If he listens, you’ve made a friend.  If he won’t listen, take one or two others along so that the presence of witnesses will keep things honest, and try again.”  (The Message) 

One of the most damaging – and I believe – evil things we can do is allow the enemy to use us to slander and gossip.  Say those two words:  Slander…….Gossip……  Even the sound of them has the “hiss” of Satan.  Think about this:  Slander is defined as “A false and malicious statement…that damages the reputation…of another”; Gossip is defined as “Trivial talk, often involving personal or sensational rumors”.  “A Gossip” is one who “habitually engages in gossip”.  WOE……

Have you ever noticed how “dirty” you feel when someone calls you and “throws up” on you (as my dear friend, Trac, says)?  I’m not talking about someone who truthfully needs wisdom in a situation and asks you to be a “sounding board”.  I’m talking about those people who do the same thing, over and over again.

They’ll say things like, “You’re the only one I can trust” or “Please…..don’t dare share this anyone else” (knowing that they’ve already told the same thing to 25 other people) or “You’re the only one who’ll understand”.

My friend, be very cautious!  It’s so easy to be pulled into the snare of the enemy.  Be on your guard!  Don’t allow yourself to used of Satan and become a “Masked Murderer” by killing others with your words.  It’s ungodly and will cost you so much!

Maybe you’ve participated in this kind of behavior and didn’t realize it; but now you’ve gained revelation.  Let me encourage you today:  Ask God to forgive you…..He will!  Then “be on the lookout” for Satan’s “invitations” and refuse to “attend his party”.

**Definitions taken from “The American Heritage Dictionary”.