A proud and haughty man—Mocker is his name—acts with overbearing pride. Proverbs 21:24, TLV
Is Your Name Mocker? A show of hands, who wants the name, Mocker? Not me. But is that our name and we don’t even know it?
Okay, so we know a mocker is proud and haughty, what else? A mocker will cause repeated emotional pain, distress, or annoyance to another person. Also, a mocker can be a smarty-pants, wise guy, kidder, satirist, accuser, blamer, troublemaker. Hmm.
We may not make fun of someone standing in front of us, but what about when they walk away? What about when we see videos and posts with people doing foolish things? Do we laugh? Make fun? Then do we share it because we enjoyed it? I wish I could say I never have. After today, I’m going to be more aware.
Reactive Responses
What if the person in question is really wrong? Spouting horrid 
things? How do we respond? With truth. Pure truth. Not truth corrupted with hate and mockery. Sigh. That’s difficult, isn’t it?
Remember those old reliable Bible verses we memorized when we were younger:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable—if there is any virtue and if there is anything worthy of praise—dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8, TLV [EMPHASIS MINE]
“Guard your heart diligently, for from it flow the springs of life.” Proverbs 4:23, TLV [EMPHASIS MINE]
“But the things that proceed out of the mouth come forth from the heart, and those things make the man unholy.” Matthew 15:18, TLV [EMPHASIS MINE]
One More Thing . . .
So, I’m thinking about that last verse, Matthew 15:18. That one pierced me a bit. Those mocking things we might say? The “just kidding” things that really weren’t us kidding? What is in our heart that we would say these hurtful things to them?
It is important to dwell on those virtuous thoughts, but when those mocking moments — even the thoughts — happen, what if we paused and asked the Holy Spirit what is at the root of that? What is in our heart that is unholy? That seeks to cause emotional harm to another?
Father, we want those unholy things rooted out of us. By Your Holy Spirit, alert us so that we can repent of that garbage — that sin — and be set free. Help us to not be any degree of a mocker — even in our minds. We don’t want the name or behavior. In Jesus’ Name. Amen!
Okay, I’m ready to be one less mocker in this world, how about you?
Think More About It
Have you unintentionally mocked others? A helpful way to tell if our remarks are hurtful is to watch the face of the person receiving them. It’s in the eyes, not the smile that defines the real reaction.
How do you dwell on virtuous thoughts?
