The Internet and Matthew 5:22

But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgement:  and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca (worthless), shall be in danger of the council:  but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.

Jesus' words from Matthew 5:22

On and off again for the past two years, I've been writing journal entries in a devotional style.  You see, I get in these "spurts" of Holy Spirit lead energy where I get up and read the Word and ingest it into my soul.  I live and breathe and want to drink ever so much more of the Word.  My way of "digesting" it all is to journal in a devotional type style.  

My simple very journaling for that day some 8 months or so ago.  

So on one particular day (in which I cannot find the journal), I remember stumbling (more like God lead me there) being lead to Matthew Ch. 5.  I love the Sermon on the Mount! But I had never really digested Matthew 5:22 like I did that day, and boy oh boy, it was like a cold water in the face!!!  What a wake up call I got!

Admittedly, I cannot tell you how many times I would get on Facebook and see some foolishness someone would post (please hear me, I'm not trying to judge others) and become, you guessed it...angry with someone whom didn't directly do a thing to me!

 Now let me back up, I have become particularly touchy about certain things since Ethan passed away and went to be with Jesus.  Those things I won't share here.  Not yet. Maybe never. (And for the record, you will NEVER hurt me by speaking Ethan's name--I treasure any and all memories of him and want people to talk about him).  But anyway, in my touchiness, I have also become judgemental.  Right, like I'm any more righteous than anyone here on earth!  NO!  

Back to Matthew 5:22, when I read Jesus' words he literally uttered here on earth many, many, years ago, I felt awful.  Because you see, I've passed way too much judgement on others and their Facebook posts by in my mind shaming them, and becoming mad.  Or just by simply being angry at what they have posted.  And that's not right.  

Am I here to tell you to get off of the internet permanently?  Absolutely not!  But I am here to say to listen to the Holy Spirit (by the way, this is a free Gift of Salvation from Jesus Christ, but you must believe and accept Him into your heart).

Going down a few verses in Matthew, Jesus tells us in 5:29... 

"And if thy right eye offend, pluck it out, and cast it from thee;  for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body be cast into hell." 

Jesus spoke in parables, and he wasn't saying to literally pluck out your eye, but was making a bold statement to make us think.  What I liken it to is my casting out Facebook (which by the way I didn't do the day I read and was convicted by this verse) from my life because it caused me to sin.  

What is it in your life Jesus is asking you to cast out?  It could be a multitude of things: drinking, smoking, cursing, gossiping, laziness, etc.  Oftentimes, though, there is a source, or rather, a fuel that adds to the fire.  Facebook fueled the fire for anger and judgement in me. For someone else, having certain friendships could perpetuate the urge to gossip.  Alcohol could rule their spirit into doing things in which they wouldn't do in a sober state.  We all have our weaknesses, and worldly things in which will rule our flesh if we don't put the flesh to death!  The only way do put the flesh to death is to accept Christ, turn from sinful lifestyles, and let the Holy Spirit lead us.  

Whatever it be, pray.  Just stop and talk to Your Father.  The Holy Spirit is our Comforter, and He is always there to guide us.  We must be willing to stop and listen...and obey!

*I'm not a theologian, but I feel compelled to say:  If you don't know how to be saved or who Jesus is, please feel free to email me.  I can try, only with the Holy Spirit, to direct you to learning more about Him.

Only Because HE first loved a sinner like me,

Shannon