The Simple Truth is the Wise Watch Their Words

Ratchet.  Ratchet.  Ratchet.  You can almost hear the tension rising, the volume increasing, the angst manifesting, the anger boiling, and the politics becoming more and more and more divisive.  This is not from God.  And yet, you’d never know that given the talk of Christians—well-educated, high-profile, nationally-known pastors, and political figures disguised as men of the cloth.  Hand-in-hand with darkness, they’re marching and protesting and denouncing their fellow man. 

To such men, I’d ask 2 questions: 

Are you in the place of God to judge another man’s heart? 

Have you forgotten James 3:8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in God’s likeness. 10 Out of the same mouth come praise and cursing. My brothers, this should not be. 11 Can both fresh water and salt water flow from the same spring?  

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It’s a Simple Truth: the wise watch their words because it is their witness. 

Am I angry?  Yes, I am.  I’m angry at the witness these Christians (so they claim) are making to the culture.  What it’s doing to the Lord I love.  Do they not care about Him?

They seem to have forgotten the clear admonition from Ephesians 5:15 Be very careful, then, how you live– not as unwise but as wise, 16 making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord’s will is.

There are positives Paul outlines: being very careful, wise, good stewards, and seeking to understand God’s will. 

There are negatives: unwise, evil, foolish.

Over the next few devotionals, I’m going to be exploring Simple Truths about Wisdom.  In them, I’m calling Christians, myself included, back to our first love and to the role God has given us…not to be foolish, unwise, evil, agitating adversaries of one another, but to be disciple-makers, teaching biblical truth, and modeling love and unity for the world.

Two words can test your heart on this:  Donald Trump.

Do you care more about him than about Jesus?  I know this is painful.  What do your words say?

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Father God, please send your Holy Spirit to examine my life.  Psalm 139: 23 “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. 24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”  Lord, help me to honor You in everything I say and do, remind me at all times that my brother and sister in the family of man and in the family of God has been made in Your Image.  Keep me from sinning against You when there’s temptation of a 24-hour news cycle to view everything as politics, deceiving me into fear or judgment or unbelief in Your sovereignty.  Give me ears to hear clearly and willing hands to do as you command Luke 6:27 “But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you.”  Remind me to pray for my enemies as well as those with whom I agree.  Help me to speak Your Word boldly and with great wisdom in this age.  Amen.