From the Desk of Melissa Reinert…

“Whoever restrains his words has knowledge, and he who has a cool spirit is a man of understanding. Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.” Proverbs 17:27-28

I’ll always remember the scene in the animated classic Bambi where the adorable young bunny Thumper shares a timeless piece of advice.

Replying to his mother’s heeding: “Thumper, what did your father tell you?” He replies, ever so sweetly: “If you don’t have somethin’ nice to say, don’t say nuthin’ at all.”

It’s a cute moment in a precious child’s film, but it’s also scripturally sound.

Proverbs 17:27 says, “whoever restrains his words has knowledge…” We should be careful with what comes from our mouths. And keep a high standard for our talk.

These past several months through our devotional series we have been exploring our culture at Lord’s Gym Ministries. A final component of that is the phrase: “No blaming, complaining or defending,” or no BCD. You’ll find this phrase posted in both our Family Activity Center in Price Hill and our Covington gym.

No BCD is a true embodiment of our culture and the transformation we hope to see in our friends’ lives.

No BCD requires pause, discipline over default, intentionality and follow through or doing the work.

So often we find ourselves in some sort of predicament or snare. Our initial reaction is to vocally place blame. When we do that, we are not being good stewards of our words and we create division among God’s people and disrupting the fulfillment of the Lord’s purpose for our lives. Proverbs 16:27-28 says: “A worthless man plots evil, and his speech is like a scorching fire. A dishonest man spreads strife, and a whisperer separates close friends.”

 So, no blaming.

 Another knee jerk reaction is to complain. But Philippians 2: 14-16 says, “Do all things without grumbling or disputing, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life.”

 Finally, there should also be no defending. Take ownership of the circumstance, buckle down, and do the work to make a change. This applies to you personally, as well as those around you who you are an example to. If you see someone out of line with the scriptures, gently correct them.

Let’s look at Matthew 18:15-17: “If your brother sins against you, go, and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, so that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell the church.”

To live BCD free, you gotta do the work. It’s hard. It’s also rewarding. Get to it!