How Would Someone Explain Your Life?

How Would Someone Explain Your Life?

         How would someone explain your life after you leave this world? Would they say that was a wealthy person, a person with many possessions, a good person, a fun person, a friend to all, a loving father, mother, brother, sister? What would be said about your life that you left here on earth. My best friend growing up and even today has been given a nickname by all that he meets. It seemed liked that wherever he went, he was always called "Smiley."  This was because he was always smiling no matter what, where, or when in life. He even smiles when he sleeps which is quite different. No matter what may be going on, he is always smiling. Just like my friend who is remembered wherever he goes as "Smiley," We are remembered just as well as my friend is in this life as Christians.

         The Bible speaks about our names and legacies we leave behind on earth in Proverbs 22:1 "A good name is rather to be chosen than great riches, and loving favour rather than silver and gold." It says that a good name should be chosen over anything else in our lives. Back in the "olden" days the respect of someone's name was of the utmost importance. If your name gave people a bad taste or when people heard that last name they would automatically know who that family was around town. We have our family names but also we have the name Christian, and when someone thinks of you as a Christian what do they perceive Christians to be or do in life. Just remember wherever you go you are always making a name for yourself, hopefully it is a name that represents God as well as your family.

-Youth Pastor Scott Hopkins
 Crossroads Baptist Church

Piercings Like a Sword, or One that Brings Health

Youth Pastor, Scott Hopkins
March 12, 2014

         Have you ever had something said about you that pierced you deep in your heart almost like a sword? I think most of us can agree that we have been in a situation like his in our lives. A moment where you thought someone was maybe your friend and they said something that really struck you deep. These moments are not good and fun at all. They create a bitter feeling or disgust towards that person, where once we had such good thoughts about them. The sad thing is that it is inevitable that someone will say something that will pierce us like swords throughout our lives, but we don't have to be apart of it. We have a choice in the matter of what we say about one another.

           Proverbs 12:18 says "There is that speaketh like the piercings of a sword: but the tongue of the wise is health." The Bible is clearly defining those that speak with hurtful words and those that are wise with their words. One can see that if we are wise with our words they are health to those that we speak to or about in our lives. Our jobs as Christians should be to edify and encourage those around us no matter what hurt they have brought us or pain they have made us feel. Let us try and be wise with our words so that we can bring health to those around us instead of swords which do terrible damage. Swords are always cutting, stabbing and piercing. They are never helpful in regards to our words, so let us keep this in mind that whatever we say, brings health and encouragement to whomever we meet in life.