It was after lunch when I was in the 7th grade. We were hanging out over at the Band Hall taking turns riding the only 10-Speed Bicycle in Hamburg. When one of the 9th grade guys got his turn, he decided to ride the rest of the lunch break. I decided to step in. I said, “Hey, we all want to ride. What are you some kind of a communist?” That did it. Riding time was over. The fellow threw the bike down, he hollered…I laughed. He was mad, I just wanted to ride the bike. I was such a street fighter. Yep, there I was taunting him with my hands in my pockets when he hit me so hard upside the head that everything turned green. My glasses flew off my face and bounced off the Band Hall wall. The bell rang. The fight was over. As I sat in math class with a mouth full of blood I thought, “I should have kept my mouth shut.”

Think about it. It was not my bike. I still did not get to ride the bike. And I really didn’t know about communism. But I am thankful for this God School Lesson. Mouthing off, calling people derogatory names only creates greater division. The only love I was showing was self-love. But at the heart of it all was my heart. “For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” Matthew 12:34. Listen to this warning from Romans 14:10-13, “You, then, why do you judge your brother or sister? Or why do you treat them with contempt? For we will all stand before God’s judgment seat. It is written: “‘As surely as I live,’ says the Lord, ‘every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God.’” So then, each of us will give an account of ourselves to God. Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister.”  Remember, “Every Soul Matters To God!”

I can hear my mother saying, “Robert, if you can’t something good about someone, don’t say anything.” Paul took this instruction higher with, “For we speak as messengers approved by God to be entrusted with the Good News.”  1 Thessalonians 2:4. And this “Good News” is that Jesus is the Only Hope, The Only Peace, the Only Pure & True Love…and Jesus said, “Look, I am coming soon! My reward is with me, and I will give to each person according to what they have done.” Revelation 22:12

Today is a new day, a fresh start. Will you start it with Jesus?