Smooth Talkers

            The Bible often warns against the harsh use of words.  The apostle Paul listed abusive speech as one of the sinful habits that should be abandoned in the new life of a Christian (Colossians 3:8).  A destructive tongue is variously characterized as a “sharp razor” (Psalm 52:2) or a “sharp sword” (Psalm 57:4; Proverbs 12:18).  If you have ever been on the receiving end of the weaponized words of a skilled practitioner, you likely have the scars to prove it.

            But there is another form of speech that doesn’t have the jagged edge of harshness but can be just as destructive.  The Bible also warns us about smooth talkers who use their words to damage us.  The Psalmist speaks of one whose “...speech was smoother than butter, but his heart was war; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords” (Psalm 55:21).  The wise father in Proverbs warns his son of the deceptive words of the temptress: “For the lips of an adulteress drip honey and smoother than oil is her speech; but in the end she is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword” (Proverbs 5:3-4).  As Paul closes his letter to the Roman church, he references troublemakers who would seek to lead them away from the truth: “For such men are slaves, not of our Lord Christ but of their own appetites; and by their smooth and flattering speech they deceive the hearts of the unsuspecting” (Romans 16:18).

            In some ways, the smooth talker is even more dangerous than the harsh talker.  The intentions of one using abusive speech are easily identified as destructive. There is no doubt about what is going on.  But the motives of the smooth talker are harder to discern.  He or she may be saying good things in pleasing ways but still seeking to harm you.

            Be on guard against the smooth talker.  And, even more importantly, let’s all seek to speak in pleasing ways -- but never as a cover to harm anyone else. 

God loves you!

Mike

"But even if He does not..."

            Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego were between the proverbial “rock and a hard place.”  Along with Daniel and many others, these three Hebrew youths had been forcibly taken from their homeland and transported as captives to Babylon.  By God’s grace, they made the best of a bad situation and achieved positions of influence in KIng Nebuchadnezzar’s administration.  But situations continued to arise which tested their commitment to God.

One such situation occurred in chapter three of Daniel.  The prideful king of Babylon had a massive golden image erected and invited all of his administration to the dedication ceremony.  As part of the festivities, at a certain point, everyone was to bow down and worship the image.  Failure to do so would result in the offender being put to death in a blazing furnace.  This posed a problem for Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego.  Remaining true to their faith in God meant they couldn’t bow down and worship the image.  But disobeying the king’s command meant certain death.

To their credit, the youths stood firm on their commitment to God and refused to bow down.  This news quickly came to the king’s attention and he flew into a rage.  He had them brought before him and gave them one last opportunity to follow orders before being thrown into the fire.  Their response reveals their great faith: “O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to give you an answer concerning this matter.  If it be so, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king.  But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up” (Daniel 3:16–18).

Do I have the courage to be faithful to God even if things may not work out the way I want?  Lord, please help my faith to be conditionless.  No “if’s,” “and’s,” or “but’s.”

God loves you!

Mike

Shared Experiences

“I, John, your brother and fellow partaker in the tribulation and kingdom and perseverance which are in Jesus, was on the island called Patmos because of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus” (Revelation 1:9).

As the apostle John prepares to share the message he was given with the struggling believers in the first century, he spends the first part of chapter one setting the stage for what will follow.  Verses 1-3 are a prologue which tracks the revelatory process as it makes its way from God to the seven churches of Asia.  It also includes a blessing for the reader and the obedient hearers of the prophetic words of imminent events.  Verses 4-6 highlight a collective greeting from all three members of the Godhead, each of Whom will be intimately involved in the events of the following chapters.  We have small preview of coming events in verses 7-8 as the Eternal and Almighty Lord God references the coming judgment to be meted out by His Son.

That brings us to verse 9.  As I studied these verses recently, I was struck by the humility of the apostle as he speaks of his own role in the important message he was chosen to share.  John doesn’t assume a position of authority as an inspired apostle.  He is not some ivory tower theologian writing to those enduring something he knows nothing about.  He is also in the trenches of spiritual warfare as a “brother” and “fellow partaker” with the suffering believers to whom he was writing.  He wasn’t composing this letter from a comfy office but from a rocky, desolate island used as a penal colony by the Romans.  His preaching of Jesus had resulted in being banished to a first century “Alcatraz.”

What life experiences do you have that could enable you to reach out to someone who is hurting?  Often the best help comes from someone who is going through (or has gone through) the same struggle that others are enduring.  Your words can carry a greater weight if you “have been there.”

God loves you!

Mike

The Right Ballast

“In 1979 the tugboat Cahaba was headed down the Tombingbee River in Alabama, USA. The current was flowing fast as the tug’s pilot approached the bridge and released his coal barges. He then put his 1800 horsepower twin engines into reverse to get away, but when the boat moved slightly off line the current swung the boat sideways and slammed it into the bridge. The current was so strong that it forced the boat down under the water. To the astonishment of onlookers it passed under the bridge and popped up, upright, with the engines still going and the pilot at the wheel, on the other side. Why did it come back to the surface in an upright position? Because it was ballasted with a metre thick lining of cement on the bottom of the hull. It is a vivid reminder that life can often go horribly wrong, but if we have the right “ballast” – faith in Christ – then we can get through it and emerge upright on the other side.”*

            As I read this, I was reminded of another harrowing boat story.  This one is recorded in Luke 8:22-25.  Jesus and His disciples get into boat to cross over to the other side of the sea of Galilee.  As some of the men (likely the fishermen among the group) attended to the business of sailing the craft, Jesus took the opportunity to rest and soon fell asleep.  After a while, a dangerous storm blew in and the boat began to take on water.  It's entirely possible that the disciples tried to navigate the waves on their own for a period of time, but their efforts proved to be useless.  In desperation, they shake Jesus awake and beg for His help.  Perhaps rubbing the sleep from His eyes, Jesus rebukes the storm and all become calm.  But there is another rebuke coming -- this time for the weak faith of the disciples.

            The right ballast in a scary situation makes all the difference.  Where is our faith?

God loves you!

Mike

*http://storiesforpreaching.com/category/sermonillustrations/problems/