A Soft Answer

"A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."

Proverbs 15:1

Today I saved myself a little pain by obeying this principle.  I was talking with a framing foreman and he inferred my crew had missed insulating two pipes.  The truth is, while the pipes were still under test and had not been released for insulation, the framers covered my access with their track.  The man's just doing his job, I thought, trying to shift the blame to someone else in front of the general contractor.  Another thought sprung to my mind to say:  this man's ignorance is only exceeded by his stupidity.  Whoa!  That's not something I should say, much less think!

Later I thanked God He kept my mouth shut.  Death and life are in the power of the tongue (Prov. 18:21).  Growing up I was often admonished to "think before you speak."  We have the power to diffuse a situation with a gracious, kind answer.  We need not mock or scorn as the fool, brag, or blame.  Proverbs 26:4-5 teaches us, "Do not answer a fool according to his folly, lest you also be like him.  [5] Answer a fool according to his folly, lest he be wise in his own eyes."  Instead of these verses conflicting with one another, they compliment.  There is no need to be drawn into a shouting match with cursing and personal cut-downs.  But there is a time when foolish statements should be corrected with truth so the ignorant will not be smug in his ignorance.  Jesus always contended for truth, and He did so in a way that instructed, edified the hearers, and glorified God.

 

Every day we will use our mouths to communicate with words.  The words you use and how you use them is up to you.  Proverbs 25:11-12:  "A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in settings of silver.  [12] Like an earring of gold and an ornament of fine gold is a wise rebuker to an obedient ear."  The art of rebuke and reproof is a rare quality these days.  Opposition of falsehood is good.  There is a way to speak to the heart of a matter which reaches beyond sentence structure and word choice.  It takes the leading, power, and authority of the Holy Spirit.  For Him to have His way in us, we must remain humble.  We rebuke not because we are right and someone else is wrong, but because God is being robbed of glory.  Instead of taking offense at harsh words spoken to us, let us turn away wrath with a soft answer.  After being crucified for our sin Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do" (Luke 23:34).  Once our hearts are melted by the grace, mercy, and forgiveness of Jesus, our lips should be seasoned with these virtues.

Pray with me:  "Father, my tongue is a world of iniquity.  Purify my thoughts and mouth that I may worship you in Spirit and truth; enable me to rebuke, encourage, exhort, and bless others; empower me to thank and praise you for who you are and the wondrous things you have done.  Help me to guard my heart, mind, and the fruit of my lips.  May the words I say be yours as Christ lives in me.  Amen!"

Open the Door!

This morning in church the words of Jesus Christ in Revelation 3:20 was read:  "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and he with Me."  The immediate context is Jesus addressing the church in Laodicea concerning their lukewarm condition.  When this passage was read, a picture popped into my mind:  Jesus, standing at the door of a church building knocking while everyone inside ignored the sound of His voice caught up in their own plans.

The Laodicean church thought they were on fire, but they were of the kind Paul wrote about in 2 Cor. 10:12:  "For we dare not class ourselves or compare ourselves with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise."  Yet it would be wisdom to consider and judge ourselves according to God's standards.  Physical life is evidenced first by inner activity:  heart pumping blood, lungs inhaling and exhaling, thoughts filling the mind.  A life well-lived makes good use of inner activity through outer actions which bring glory to God.  While we tend to focus on external activities and actions to commend ourselves before God, He looks upon the heart.  A heart regenerated by the Holy Spirit will be filled with life.  Spiritual life will be evidenced with constant physical response for God's glory.

Church fellowships today have no shortage of activity.  Evenings are packed with meetings, committees, and gatherings of every conceivable kind.  Guys come for steak and a movie, while another group shares a game of bingo.  The board meets to talk over budget issues, while a planning committee talks about the schedule for the upcoming musical program.  A group meets on the weekends to handle landscaping and building maintenance, and weary youth head home from a overnight lock-in.  There's no shortage of people who gather to pray, plan for missions, to receive an addendum concerning ushers and deacons, to sew baby blankets, put together shoeboxes for Samaritan's purse, build skateboard ramps, set up or stack chairs and tables, share a potluck, or even play a game of basketball.  But during all these events, Jesus can be left outside the door.  He stands at the door knocking and calling out in a loud voice great and precious promises to any who will respond with the opening of the door.  "If you will open the door, I'll come in!  We can commune together over a meal, and I'll provide the food.  Just open the door!"

See, it's Jesus who is on the menu.  He is the Bread of Life.  He is the Passover Lamb slain for the sins of the world.  The lamb at the Jewish Passover feast was to be eaten entirely, a picture of us becoming one with Jesus Christ through faith.  John 6:53-58 says, "Then Jesus said to them, "Most assuredly, I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink His blood, you have no life in you. [54] Whoever eats My flesh and drinks My blood has eternal life, and I will raise him up at the last day. [55] For My flesh is food indeed, and My blood is drink indeed. [56] He who eats My flesh and drinks My blood abides in Me, and I in him. [57] As the living Father sent Me, and I live because of the Father, so he who feeds on Me will live because of Me. [58] This is the bread which came down from heaven--not as your fathers ate the manna, and are dead. He who eats this bread will live forever."   This is not an urge toward cannibalism, but an exhortation for Jesus to be our spiritual food and drink.  He must become the sole substance that not only defines us but empowers and guides all we do.  Jesus is more than calories or fuel:  He is our Life.

Revelation 3:20 is not only to be interpreted in light of a corporate church fellowship but to be applied on a personal level as well.  Do we spend most of our lives with Jesus outside knocking and calling?  Or is His presence dictating all we do as we share sweet fellowship with Him?  There is a great story when Peter was freed from prison and he went to the home of fellow believers in Christ, the home of John Mark.  Acts 12:13-14 tells us, "And as Peter knocked at the door of the gate, a girl named Rhoda came to answer. [14] When she recognized Peter's voice, because of her gladness she did not open the gate, but ran in and announced that Peter stood before the gate."  So often our lives resemble the lives of Rhoda.  We're excited that Jesus stands outside the door and knocks calling out, but we neglect to open the door!  Every church I've visited sets aside time for announcements, but how many churches make opening the door for Jesus the only priority?  Let's make a decision to open the door of our hearts and lives to Jesus.  This must happen before our churches will. 

What have you given?

In his inaugural address, President John F. Kennedy said, "And so my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country."  How the climate of America has changed!  Modern culture is saturated with seeking the most benefits with the least cost.  Between social programs, government grants, welfare, and medical insurance, there are many potential benefits of living in America.  But when is the last time I asked, "What can I do for my country?"  Unfortunately if I even tried to ask I would likely be directed to an 800 number with an automated voice response.  Since the days of President Kennedy, the implications of "country" in America has become synonymous with "government."  Country is more than government, just like church is more than a building.

After dinner, our family typically reads a chapter from the Bible.  Tonight we read this in 1 Chron. 16:28-29:  "Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength. [29] Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him.  Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness!"  The repetition of the word "give" stood out to me.  It could also be inferred that bringing an offering is a gift, as well as the gift of worship.  It is fitting we should give unto God, for He has freely given unto us all things.  In light of Kennedy's quote, it could be rephrased:  "Ask not what God can give to you - ask what you can give unto God."

If we are willing to ask this question, God is ready to answer.  Instead of an automated response, we will receive a personal answer that will be challenging, personal, or even painful.  Few are as honorable as King David, who refused to offer to God what cost him nothing.  I think it wise to ask ourselves if there is anything we will not give to God.  If we are called to give all to God it is what we refuse to give which must be dealt with.  God is a giving, generous God.  Our prayers can mimic the two daughters of the leech mentioned in Proverbs 30:15:  Give and Give!  Instead of our lives being marked by greed, God can empower us to be gracious givers.  Let us give Him our all.

Glorious, Awesome God

This morning I had "Awesome God" stuck in my head.  "Our God is an awesome God, He reigns from heaven above with wisdom, power, and love:  our God is an awesome God."  I could hear an orchestra playing along, a symphony of praise raising up to God in heaven.  Like cannons were used in the recording of the 1812 Overture, I imagined howitzers firing off at the crescendo.  I wonder:  do the angels sing songs written by men?  If I could imitate the songs of angels I certainly would!  A song should never fire us up more than our excitement concerning the God of whom we sing.

How awesome is our God!  He has created the universe with a word, at whose face the world will flee.  In Rev. 20:11 we read, "Then I saw a great white throne and Him who sat on it, from whose face the earth and the heaven fled away. And there was found no place for them."  Earth and heaven cannot hide from God, and neither can those who inhabitant them.  The power of earthly elements are nothing compared to the power and might of the God followers of Jesus Christ serve.  He is God, and there is no other.  Even the wind and waves obey Him.  This is a God worthy not only of songs but of fear and much trembling from His subjects.  If you shudder at the thought of being cornered by a thug in an alley or a fearsome beast in the woods, tremble before God!

Few things make us tremble these days.  We are happy and content with a far-off god, a god who involves himself in our lives at our convenience according to our plan, a god we can manipulate and control.  But the Creator and Ruler of all that is made is no such god:  He is an awesome God!  He is the over and above all One.  Isaiah 55:8-9 says, "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. [9] "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts."  If we think highly of ourselves, we will have a low view of God.

1 Chron. 16:28-35 reads, "Give to the Lord, O families of the peoples, give to the Lord glory and strength. [29] Give to the Lord the glory due His name; bring an offering, and come before Him. Oh, worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness! [30] Tremble before Him, all the earth.  The world also is firmly established, it shall not be moved. [31] Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; and let them say among the nations, "The Lord reigns." [32] Let the sea roar, and all its fullness; let the field rejoice, and all that is in it. [33] Then the trees of the woods shall rejoice before the Lord, for He is coming to judge the earth. [34] Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  For His mercy endures forever."  May we be moved to praise such a glorious God, whose reign is from everlasting to everlasting.  Such praise is due Him by us.