"Just kidding..."

"Just kidding." We've all said it before. I'll even bet that many of us have said that phrase today even in the past hour or two. I know what you're asking, "what's so bad about saying that?" It seems so innocent doesn't it? We joke and just have a good time because it is fun and brings laughter and what seems like joy to others. But that's just it. It simply seems like joy. Think about the times that you have used that phrase or others like it. For me this has often been at times when others have been around and I or somebody else made a comment about another person or about a situation. It all seems like it's just fun, but have you ever thought about how that makes the other person feel? Whether or not you agree with me, you cannot ignore what the Bible says about situations like this and about our speech. "Like a madman who throws firebrands, arrows and death. So is the man who deceives his neighbor, and says, 'Was I not joking?'" Proverbs 26:18-19 Scripture says that the one who uses this phrase is like a madman throwing arrows and death around at people. The word that people like to throw out here is 'deceives.' That word means so much more than what we commonly think. It literally means to mislead, so yes even joking is to mislead or lie to someone. At this point it is common to think/say that it's just a joke, nothing big. The question you have to answer for yourself here is: 'what constitutes a sin in need of repentance?' Simply, to you, is a lie a sin at the same level of, say, murder? According to the scriptures this answer is resoundingly, YES, a sin is a sin and all sins are need of repentance and redemption. In our culture and in the way that we conduct our lives it is difficult to not joke or to cut down somebody but we must strive to make this cease. Could you imagine what could happen if we constantly lived our lives with love and encouragement that is portrayed in the Gospel? It would be amazing. "Let no unwholesome word proceed from your mouth, but only such a word that is good for edification according to the need of the moment, so that it will give GRACE to those who hear." Ephesians 4:29 "But now you also, put them all aside: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and abusive speech from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self who is being renewed to a true knowledge according to the image of the One who created him." Colossians 3: 8-10 Encourage one another in conduct and in speech and sacrifice yourself so that the name of Christ may become famous. Love in the way that you know that you have been loved, in a way that gave up life to take on the impurities of all to provide salvation for all. Great things can and will happen if we conduct ourselves in a manner that is pleasing to God. Will you love?