Wagging Tails and Tongues 流言蜚语
Dexu Xia
The words of a gossip are like choice morsels. Proverbs 18:8
The newspaper declared that Pep had taken the life of the cat belonging to the governor’s wife—but he didn’t do it. The only thing he may have been guilty of was chewing the sofa at the governor’s mansion.
Pep was a rambunctious young Labrador retriever owned by Pennsylvania’s governor Gifford Pinchot in the 1920s. The dog actually was sent to Eastern State Penitentiary, where his mug shot was taken with a prisoner identification number. When a newspaper reporter heard about it, he made up the cat story. Because his report appeared in the newspaper, many believed Pep really was a cat-killer.
Israel’s King Solomon knew well the power of misinformation. He wrote, “The words of a gossip are like choice morsels; they go down to the inmost parts” (Proverbs 18:8). Sometimes our fallen human nature causes us to want to believe things about others that aren’t true.
Yet even when others believe untruths about us, God can still use us for good. In reality, the governor sent Pep to prison so he could be a friend to the inmates there—and he served for many years as a pioneer therapy dog.
God’s purposes for our lives still stand, regardless of what others say or think. When others gossip about us, remember that His opinion—and His love for us—is what matters most.
By: James Banks
How does it encourage you to know that God isn’t affected by what someone may say or think about you? How will you celebrate His perfect love today?
Abba, Father, thank You for making me Your child. Help me to share Your love with others today.
传舌人的言语，如同美食。—箴言18章8节
在1920年代，一份报章报导，一只桀骜不驯的年轻拉布拉多猎犬佩普杀了州长妻子的猫，被判终身监禁。但其实佩普并没有这样做，它唯一可能的过错只是在州长的官邸咬沙发而已。
佩普的主人是当时美国的宾州州长吉福德·平肖。佩普的确被送到了东部州立监狱，在那里有人给它拍了一张大头照，照片中的它胸前佩戴着一个囚犯编号牌。报社记者听说后，就编造了这杀猫的故事。由于这个故事刊登在报纸上，许多人都相信佩普真的是猫杀手。
以色列国王所罗门很清楚假消息的杀伤力。他写道﹕“传舌人的言语，如同美食深入人的心腹”（箴言18章8节）。因着人性的败坏，使我们想要相信关于他人的不实消息。
然而，即使其他人相信关于我们的不实传言，上帝仍然能使用我们来成全祂的美意。实际上，州长将佩普送进了监狱，是让它可以成为狱中囚犯的朋友。结果它成了治疗犬的先驱，并且服务了很多年。
不管别人怎么说或怎么想，上帝对我们生命的旨意都不会改变。当别人散播有关我们的流言蜚语时，请谨记：上帝的看法以及祂对我们的爱，才是最重要的。
作者： 庞雅各
无论别人怎么说你、怎么看你，
上帝都不受影响。
这带给你怎样的鼓励？
今天你会如何歌颂祂完全的爱？
阿爸天父，感谢祢让我成为祢的孩子。
请帮助我今天就与他人分享祢的爱