I don’t switch Bibles often because I want my Bible to fit me like a glove. I take notes in my Bibles and over time I grow to know it like a close friend. New Bibles are hard for me to adjust to, but recently the fresh pages of a new Bible offered a clean canvas for me to wrestle through God’s word anew. When I find notes in this Bible, I know for certain that they are fresh and new.
In the margin of Jeremiah 23, I have written, “Wait for the Lord.” The context for my note is the lying prophets of Jeremiah 23, those whom the Lord says “ran” to the people evne though he “did not send them.” The lying prophets ere eager to speak even though God had not spoken to them. They wanted their words to be heard even if their words did not come from the Lord.
We need to diligently avoid lying in God’s name.
Most of us would never purposefully lie in the name of the Lord, but I have learned that I’m often tempted to speak without first waiting for the Lord. I’m often tempted to fill a void with words without first making certain that they are God’s words. Much like the lying prophets of Jeremiah’s day, I am tempted to “run” and speak when God has not sent me nor has he given me words to speak.
Consider these Proverbs:
- 10:19– When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but whoever restrains his lips is prudent.
- 13:3– Whoever guards his mouth preserves his life; he who opens wide his lips comes to ruin.
- 17:28– Even a fool who keeps silent is considered wise; when he closes his lips, he is deemed intelligent.
- 18:13– If one gives an answer before he hears, it is his folly and shame.
- 29:11– A fool gives full vent to his spirit, but a wise man quietly holds it back.
Say the right things
Often our desire to speak is not rooted in our ability to provide godly counsel, but in our need to be heard. Before you speak, some people urge you to THINK, but I want you to focus on saying the right THING :
- Is it true?
- Is it helpful?
- Is it important?
- Is it necessary?
- Is it God-honoring?
Certainly this is not a perfect test, but I do believe that we should focus on God-honoring words rather than merely kind. Speaking words that honor God will always be loving words, but there are times when words may be loving, true, helpful, important, necessary and God-honoring, but not kind (thus THING instead of THINK).
Further, asking whether or not our words are God-honoring should serve to remind us to speak God’s words at God’s time and avoid running to speak when God has not spoken.
