Once someone has heard the gossip, they are unlikely to believe our explanation. The fact that they were convinced by the gossip tells us they don't value us, or they would have chosen not to believe what they heard.
Christ told only the truth, and yet the Pharisees lied against Him, turning the people who believed them against Him too.
Psalm 101:5 "Whoever slanders his neighbor secretly I will destroy. Whoever has a haughty look and an arrogant heart I will not endure."
Proverbs 20:19 "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."
Proverbs 12:15-17 "…15 The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to counsel. 16 A fool’s anger is known at once, but a prudent man overlooks an insult. 17 He who speaks the truth declares what is right, but a false witness speaks deceit."
Proverbs 16:28 "A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends."
The best recourse when someone has gossiped against us is to ignore it. Answer it only if someone comes to you directly to find out the truth.
Be comforted that God knows the truth! If someone wants to believe the lies against us there is nothing we can do to convince them otherwise.
The ungodly lied against the prophets, the apostles, and Jesus Christ, and they will do it to us too.
God gives us guidelines for dealing with those who love to gossip and turn others against you, here is one of them:
Proverbs 20:19 "Whoever goes about slandering reveals secrets; therefore do not associate with a simple babbler."
And, finally, pray for those who are so insecure that they need to bring someone else down to feel superior. They are destitute without strength and without confidence.
Sunday, October 4, 2026
Pray for Unbelievers and for Those Who think they are saved but may not be.
There is no purpose in trying to decide if someone who has died went to heaven or hell. If you are unsure, let it go; God knows for sure, and we have no need to know for sure.
It is good to preach the gospel and warn those who have not trusted Christ that they will go to hell if they do not trust in Him.
This is different than attempting to figure out if a dead person went to heaven or hell. Some people we believe are saved because their life and the fruit of the Spirit indicated that they were a brother or sister in Christ. And if we watched someone who blatantly rejected Christ until their death, we can say they went to hell.
Romans 10:6 "But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)"
We cannot say someone will go to hell before they are dead because we don't know if later in their life they will repent and become saved. We can tell them they will go to hell if they do not repent and trust in Christ.
Romans 1:17 "For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
Pray for those who have not yet trusted Christ that one day before they die they will see their need for Christ and place their trust in Him.
Do not neglect praying for those who claim to be Christians; many of them may not be saved but think they are going to heaven.
Matthew 7:21-23 I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
It is good to preach the gospel and warn those who have not trusted Christ that they will go to hell if they do not trust in Him.
This is different than attempting to figure out if a dead person went to heaven or hell. Some people we believe are saved because their life and the fruit of the Spirit indicated that they were a brother or sister in Christ. And if we watched someone who blatantly rejected Christ until their death, we can say they went to hell.
Romans 10:6 "But the righteousness based on faith says, “Do not say in your heart, ‘Who will ascend into heaven?’” (that is, to bring Christ down)"
We cannot say someone will go to hell before they are dead because we don't know if later in their life they will repent and become saved. We can tell them they will go to hell if they do not repent and trust in Christ.
Romans 1:17 "For the gospel reveals the righteousness of God that comes by faith from start to finish, just as it is written: “The righteous will live by faith.”
Hebrews 11:6 "And without faith it is impossible to please God. For anyone who approaches Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him."
Pray for those who have not yet trusted Christ that one day before they die they will see their need for Christ and place their trust in Him.
Do not neglect praying for those who claim to be Christians; many of them may not be saved but think they are going to heaven.
Matthew 7:21-23 I Never Knew You
21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’"
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