Accuser or Intercessor?

We eat delicious and nutritious food by mouth relishing every morsel with our tongue. Do we then eat waste products and rotten, mouldy food with that same mouth and tongue?

Then why do we praise God and speak bad about our neighbour, with the same mouth and tongue?

God's Word speaks volumes about the dangers of ill use of the tongue and the benefits of the proper use of the tongue:-

James 3:8 - But the tongue can no man tame; [it is] an unruly evil, full of deadly poison.

James 1:26 - If any man among you seem to be religious, and bridleth not his tongue, but deceiveth his own heart, this man's religion [is] vain.

Proverbs 10:19 - In the multitude of words there wanteth not sin: but he that refraineth his lips [is] wise.

Proverbs 15:28 - The heart of the righteous studieth to answer: but the mouth of the wicked poureth out evil things.

James 3:6 - And the tongue [is] a fire, a world of iniquity: so is the tongue among our members, that it defileth the whole body, and setteth on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire of hell.

We learn from God's Word that when we speak iniquity, our tongue defiles our whole body with the fire from hell. Then why do we choose to speak ill of people?

We as human beings are too quick to form an opinion of others. We form opinions about our bosses, our coworkers, our pastors, fellow church members, our leaders, our friends and even our family members. In our minds we think we are better than them. This leads to personal judgement and criticism. We criticise almost everyone almost all the time in our minds except ourselves. Then what we think spills out from our mouths when we are with others.

Let us close our eyes and think of the following people:-
1. Billy Graham
2. Madonna
3. Mother Theresa
4. Obama
5. Lady Gaga
6. Michael Jackson
7. Martin Luther

Now stop and examine each thought and opinion which our mind forms when we hear each name. We praise some and we despise some because of the opinions we form in our minds about them, based on right and wrong. 

Do we have the heart and mind of God our Father? If we have, then we will look at people like how He sees them and love them with compassion and do all we can to save them from hell fire. We will pray for them instead of using the precious time to accuse them and criticise them.

We judge and criticise others because we conclude that they are doing something wrong or doing something out of the norm. If we really care about what they do so much, why don't we turn our criticisms to intercessions? Why don't we pray for them to change and become better persons?

Now go back to the list of names again. This time as you think of each person, try this:- For every person whom you think is a praise worthy person, stop to thank God for that person's life and bless that person. For every person whom you think is not walking right with God, pray for them asking the Holy Spirit to give life to the dead bones and to birth the new life of Christ in them.(imagine all of them to be still living even though some have died for this is only an exercise) How do you feel now?

We can choose to put on Christ's nature or the nature of the devil .

The Bible says in Rom 8:34 that, Jesus sits at God's right hand interceding for us and the bible also says in Rev 12:10 ... For the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, he who accuses them day and night before our God. In other words the accuser is accusing us day and night before God and he will be destroyed at the end of times.

So, do we want to put on Christ's nature and use our tongue to intercede for people whom we want to judge and criticise or put on the devil's nature and criticise them and be an accuser of them before God.

Our choice will determine our final destination. When we intercede for others we will be seated with Christ in heaven for all eternity. But when we choose to join forces with the Accuser who is Satan himself, then we will be thrown down into hell with it and it's cohorts on the final day of judgement.

Therefore let us use our tongue wisely and let us intercede for everyone especially those we want to judge and criticise. Let us populate heaven with our intercessions instead of becoming an inhabitant of hell for all eternity. 

Oh, if we can save just one sinner from hell fire, how heaven will rejoice! How happy our Father will be!

Mary Augustine