How should we treat our mother? We're told to "honour thy mother " in Exodus 20:12. To honor means to revere; to respect; to treat with deference and submission, and to perform relative duties to. God issued a judgment of death for anyone that "smiteth or curseth his mother" Exo. 21:15, 1 7. Don't ever hit your mom! Be kind to her!

King Solomon had to decide a matter between two mothers and a dead baby. Both women had given birth three days before. One woman had overlaid her child in the night and it died. She arose at midnight, while the other mother slept, and switched babies with her. They both argued that the living baby was theirs. So the wise king called for a sword to cut the baby in half so each mother could have her fair share of the child. This was fine with one woman, but the other begged the king not to kill it, and was willing to let the other woman have it to save its life. Thus, Solomon discovered the true mother of the baby by her compassion and love, and awarded her back her child. A mother's nature is to protect her baby. God gave her this instinct. This story is in I Kings 3:16-28.

May each of us be wise, that we may not cause our mothers sorrow. "...a foolish son is the heaviness of his mother" Prov. 10:1. God tells us "despise not thy mother when she is old" Prov, 23:22. Nursing homes are full of mothers whose children won't take time to care for them. When their mothers get too old and feeble for a fast-paced lifestyle, many children dump them for someone else to tend to their needs. Where is the sacrifice for their mother that gave them birth, or are they too busy?

God gave a sweet promise to Israel in Isa. 66:13, "As one whom his mother comforteth, so will I comfort you. " Mothers console and soothe us in our distress.

It is interesting to note that in every record of Jesus addressing Mary, He always called her "Woman" and never "Mother." "While he yet talked to the people, behold, his mother and his brethren stood without, desiring to speak with him .... and he said unto them, "Who is my mother? and who are my brethren? And he stretched for his hand toward his disciples, and said, Behold my mother and my brethren! For whosoever shall do the will of My Father which is in heaven, the same is my brother, and sister, and mother." Matt. 12:46-50.

As we think of mothers, let us treasure them. "For I was ... tender and only beloved in the sight of' my mother " Prov. 4:3. So strong is the love of a mother, who sees the inside beyond the outside of us, the statement was generated, "That is a face only a mother could love!"

You can learn alot about people when you listen to them talk. Our words reveal what our minds think "for out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh " Matt. 12:34b. We communicate our thoughts through language, When we speak, we divulge our feelings to others. Although the old saying, "A picture's worth a thousand words," may have veracity, it is still WORDS that we use to express ourselves.

I personally strive for correctness in my speech. I try to convey my accurate views when I talk. Although I seek to refrain my tongue in many situations ("A fool uttereth all his mind: but a wise man keepeth it in till afterwards. " Prov. 29:11, "Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding. " Prov. 17:28), 1 generally try to say what I mean and mean what I say. It is never my intention to hurt anyone with my words, as I aim to "speak the truth in love" (Eph. 4:15).

All that said, I've come to the subject of my article. It is "CARELESS WORDS." Hopefully, none of us saints have the problem of cursing; although, depending upon your lifestyle B.C. (before Christ), some of us may have an occasional occurance when angry. ("Be ye angry, and sin not: " Eph. 4:26a, "But now ye also put off all these; anger wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy communication out of your mouth. " Col. 3:8)

But will you examine your speech regarding "SLANG WORDS?" Do you think anything of hearing or saying, "Darn it!" or "Oh, my gosh!" or "Gosh darn!"? "What the heck!" These terms are simply substitutes for you-know-what. Are they then pure? Is it "above reproach" to use them? Has the scripture in Eph. 4:29 ("Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. ") had an effect on your words? Does Col. 4:6a ("Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, " change the way you talk ?

I hope you've never told anyone, "If you do that again, I'll KILL you!" Would you? Should you say you would? How about, "I could have just died"? Do vou say you're "starving to death" when really you're just very hungry? Should you speak of death in such a flippant manner? "Oh, I hate her! She makes me sick." Shouldn't you rather have pity and compassion on someone held in the cords of sin?

Surely, you are not guilty of taking the Lord's holy name in vain. That is, using it in a futile, empty way. Or saying His matchless name in a worthless manner, having no real value. "Oh, my Lord!" "My God..." Are these phrases in your vocabulary? Exodus 20:7 tells us God's law about His name. Though we're not under the penalty and judgment of the law, it would behoove us to be respectful of how we speak our Saviour's name.

Many times our children have heard me sing the song, "0, be careful, little mouth, what you say ..... They have also, to my sorrow and theirs, have heard me offend with my mouth. And they have seen me apologize and admit that I am never right when I say things I shouldn't say. I have no excuse for not controlling my mouth, regardless of what others do to provoke me. I have the fruit of the Spirit (self-control), and need but to apply it to my lips. As I fill my mind with the Word of God, I know the Holv Spirit will use the scriptures to remind me that a virtuous woman "openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness " Prov. 31:26 I want Prov. 31:28 ("Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her") to be truthfully said of me. I make constant assessment of the words I say and how I speak them. Are they honest and sincere? Are they polite and respectful of others? Do they edify and encourage? I admit I often fail, but it is my goal. May God grant my prayer and "Set a watch, 0 Lord, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips " Psa. 141:3. It is my desire to "Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and my redeemer " Psa. 19:14. Will you make "careful words" your desire, too?

"That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the MUTUAL FAITH both of you and me. " Rom.1:11

Any "grace believer" who knows me very well has probably heard me mention this verse. I enjoy discussing bible doctrines with anyone who will, because it stimulates me both to think and reasonably prove my own convictions. But I find particular pleasure in gathering with those of like-mind in "round table" conversation. I feel a special bond with people who understand the scriptures rightly divided and recognize the unique ministry of the apostle Paul. When you have been confused by denominational traditions and then acknowledge the mystery revelation, it is refreshing to fellowship with other saints who have been rescued from similar chaos. God said through Paul, "Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment " (I Cor 1: IO) and again ....... let us walk by the same rule, let us mind the same thing" (Phil. 3:16). Paul begged two believers to "be of the same mind in the Lord" (Phil. 4:2). Those of us who discern the differences between law and grace, prophecy and mystery, the twelve disciples/apostles and Paul (the Gentiles' apostle Rom. It: 13), etc. should be compelled to tell

everyone else who will listen. We know the distinctions of Paul's ministry compared to the ministry of Jesus Christ on earth. "We have the same spirit of faith, according as it is written, I believed, and therefore have I spoken; we also believe, and therefore speak" (2 Cor 4:13).

Right division is the ONLY solution for mutual faith.

Don't you agree?