A Time to Keep Silence, and a Time to Speak
(Ecclesiastes 3:7b) - PART 2

Guarding Your Words (Proverbs 12:23)

Proverbs 12:23, A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness.

Someone once said, “The most difficult thing to master is our words. It is not so much what goes in one ear and comes out the other that bothers us, it is what goes in one ear, gets garbled in the process, and then comes out the mouth!”
A foolish person doesn't know 'there is a time to be silent and a time to speak' (Ecclesiastes 3:7; Proverbs 11:13). So he blurts out what he thinks is knowledge but it comes over as folly. He just wants to show off and is totally insensitive to the company and the occasion.

Prudence helps us avoid danger because it recognizes what is going on around us. Our English word prudence comes from the Latin word for “seeing ahead.” One of the most important ways in which prudence is displayed (and by which it protects us from danger) is in the matter of our speech. Prudent people do not feel the need to tell everything they know to everyone they meet. Someone once said, “If I don’t tell you what I know, how will you know that I know so much?” The temptation to be recognized as one of those “in the know” often leads us to speak when we should be silent.

There is a time to speak out and confront evil, but most of us speak too much rather than too little. Instead of proclaiming the latest about everyone, we would avoid a great deal of trouble if we prudently kept our mouths closed. If we continue to open our mouths about everyone and everything, we will certainly create trouble for ourselves and for others. If you have a problem with a person, you should talk to them and God about it—and not others.

It is impossible to overestimate how important our speech and words are to our success in life. The hearts of the righteous are revealed through their speech, as are the hearts of the wicked. Jesus spoke of the importance of this in Matthew 12:33-37.

Words are the fruit of the heart. Other people judge us according to what we say, and one day we must give account to God for every word we have spoken. According to James 3:2, those who are able to completely control their tongues are mature believers.

According to Matthew 7:6, silence may not mean ignorance but greater knowledge – of what should be said, to whom and when. Christians can do harm by blurting out precious words to those not in a right condition to receive them.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I thank You for the Bible and for all the wise instructions you have given me in it. I thank You for Your Holy Spirit to guide me for those times I needed to keep my mouth shut. Teach me to be more inclined to open my ears rather than opening my mouth. In Jesus name, Amen!

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A Time to Keep Silence, and a Time to Speak
(Ecclesiastes 3:7b) - PART 1

He Opened Not His Mouth (Isaiah 53:7)

Isaiah 53:7, He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.

When Jesus stood before Pilate in judgment, He said in Matthew 26:53, “Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels?” Yet the Bible says “He opened not his mouth”. He would be as silent as a sheep before its shearers. When He was brought before Pilate, Jesus just stood there and said nothing (Matthew 26:62-63; 27:12-14; I Peter 2:23). During much of His affliction and oppression He was completely silent. At other times He spoke only a few words. That’s because He was not on trial, Pilate was on trial. Jesus knew His destiny but most importantly, He knew His Father intimately. When you know the LORD, you can face anything with confidence and be free to be quiet. What peace He brings in the most precarious predicaments.

Sometimes it is wise to keep silent. To say, “I don’t have the answer right now but I will pray, ponder over it, and get back with you.” Your need to rescue someone, or impress them can often come back to bite you. Proverbs 12:23, A prudent man concealeth knowledge: but the heart of fools proclaimeth foolishness. There is virtue and wisdom in being discreet. When a wise man speaks, he conceals that which he cannot discreetly reveal. When a foolish man speaks, he holds back nothing but speaks all that he knows, which is mostly foolishness. The foolish blab about everything they know. Loose lips reveal things which ought to be concealed. The news media had a problem with this during WWII. During World War II, the news media was kept from a lot of information by the government because they could not be trusted to keep their mouths shut on sensitive issues. Loose lips characterize the news/social media of our day.

When people are anxious for answers, they’ll pressure you into speaking before you have all the facts or have taken time to pray and consider the situation. If you ask Him, God will tell you what to say and when to say it. His promise is found in Isaiah 51:16, And I have put my words in thy mouth, and I have covered thee in the shadow of mine hand…Ego says, “Don’t just stand there, say something.” Wisdom says, “Don’t just say something, stand there”. Ask God for His insight. One insight from Him can settle things in a hurry and rescue you from a lengthy headache. Someone else’s need to know shouldn’t determine your need to speak.

PRAYER: Father in Heaven, I know my tongue is very swift and slippery, and often gets ahead of my mind and heart. I’m sorry for those times I have spoken in anger or gossip. Help me to be slow to speak. May my words always be with grace and seasoned with salt, and careful as I answer everyone. In Jesus name, Amen.

Thank you for reading this devotion. This is PART ONE of this series. Please visit the website tomorrow for PART TWO.

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Today’s devotion is an excerpt taken from the Bible Study page from our website. If you would like to read this article in its entirety, please open the Bible Study link.  

​                 Getting Up After a Fall (Psalm 37:23-24)
 
Psalm 37:23-24, The steps of a good man are ordered by the LORD: and he delighteth in his way. Though he fall, he shall not be utterly cast down: for the LORD upholdeth him with his hand.
 
My favorite cereal is Honey Nut Cheerios. I like Honey Nut Cheerios not only because it tastes good. I also like it because you can’t sink the Cheerio. No matter how many times you attempt to sink it. It keeps resurfacing to the top. You’re not defeated by getting knocked down in life, you only defeated when you refuse to get back up. The righteous may fall, but they will get back up. The question is not whether we ever fail, but whether we get back up when we do. You cannot be defeated by the enemy; you can only lose by giving up. Don’t let defeats or setbacks discourage you. Instead commit yourself to standing firm and not giving up no matter how tough things get.
 
God will be faithful and just to guide and direct our steps (Psalm 32:8; Proverbs 3:5-6). God delights in the path of the righteous. Even as a parent delights in the steps of an obedient child, so does our heavenly Father (Psalm 11:7). Though the righteous may stumble along the path of life, He will be kept from falling over the abyss. God will grab you and lift you back up with His hand (Psalm 37:17; 63:8). Every parent has grabbed their toddler as he or she was about to fall. God has promised the same for the righteous. Failure is not final with God. God is willing to give those who fail a second chance to serve Him. 
 
Prayer: Father, it’s so obvious that I am quite an ordinary sinner when I look at my life. It’s comforting and convicting to know that godly people can fall so far and yet, You never give up on us. Help me to see areas of my life where I am prone to fall. Forgive me when I do, and help me get back in line with Your will for my life. Never let me lose my sense of dependence on You. Keep me pressing on as I follow in Your Son’s steps, realizing it is Your plan to use my time here to grow me into someone more and more like Him. Your will be done, Father, in Jesus’ name, amen.
 
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Freedom through Forgiveness (Ephesians 4:31-32)

Ephesians 4:31-32 Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.

There isn’t one person reading this devotion who hasn’t been hurt by another person. The real question is…… what are you doing with that offense? Do you hold them hostage for the injury they inflicted on you? How many hours and days have you wasted thinking, “You owe me and I’m going to make you pay?” That’s a tough question on a painful topic but eventually you’re going to have to get it settled or it will destroy you. In order to navigate your way through relationships you need to hold a principle about how you’re going to respond when someone hurts you. Failing to forgive the other person keeps you in emotional and spiritual bondage.

Ephesians 4:31-32 gives us direction: In the context of walking in love and not grieving the Holy Spirit, we are further commanded to “let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice.” Here listed are five ugly agents that are the exact opposite of love. They are as follows: bitterness (resentment, animosity, hostility), wrath (loss of temper), anger (rage, fury, irritation), clamour and evil speaking (yelling at another with nasty accusations; joined with hard feelings). It is the exact opposite of love. As God’s people in love, we are directed to do the opposite.

We are commanded to “be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you.” These are helpful and instructive. It is a manifestation of walking in love. God had so loved us when He forgave us for Christ’s sake. Read that last phrase again, “even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” Just as freely as He forgave you. Just as quickly as He forgave you. Just as generously as He forgave you.

Jesus models what forgiveness should look like in our lives. He was falsely accused, mocked, beaten and spat upon, then crucified. As He hung on that cross for your sins and mine, He said: “Father, forgive them.” Jesus’ model motivates us to live out Ephesians 4:32, “even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you.” There are no enduring relationships without forgiveness. None. Before you go very far in any relationship there will be forks in the road where if you do not forgive the relationship will not survive. It’s true in every marriage, in every household, in every small group, in every friendship and even in every church. This is always, always true.

Prayer, Lord, I’ve not yet begun to explore the depths of Your mercy toward me in Christ. Your grace is beyond what I can imagine. But help me live with an increasingly proper calculation of it. Each day, as I draw closer to understanding Your grace and mercy, may I also extend grace and mercy in greater degrees toward others. I know that if I am Your child, I must forgive. Empower me to be a forgiver like You, for Your glory. I ask this through the precious name of Jesus, amen.

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God Has a Bigger Shovel (Luke 6:38)

Luke 6:38, Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

This principle is universal. A person who has a generous spirit will get back even more than what they gave. This certainly is true in respect to giving to God. He will also give back more than we give to Him.

While traveling during a rainy day, an elderly woman had a flat tire. As her car sat on the side of the road, she was approached by a young man. The young man said, "I'm here to help you, ma'am. Why don't you wait in the car where it's warm? By the way, my name is Bryan." After he changed her tire she rolled the window down and asked him how much she owed him. Bryan never thought twice about asking for money, even though he could have used some financial help. Changing a tire was not a job to him; it was a matter of helping someone in need. He told the woman that if she really wanted to pay him back, the next time she saw someone who needed help, she could give that person the assistance they needed. "And when you do," he added, "think of me." Bryan waited until the woman started her car and drove off.

A few miles down the road the woman saw a small diner and she went in to grab a bite to eat. Her waitress had a sweet smile, one that couldn't be erased, even though she had been on her feet all day. The woman noticed that the waitress was pregnant. She wondered how someone who seemingly had so little could be so generous and kind to a stranger. After she finished her meal, she remembered Bryan and she gave the waitress a $100 bill. While the waitress went to get change, the woman slipped quietly out the door. When the waitress came back to the table, she noticed something written on a napkin. When she picked it up to read it, she noticed four $100 bills that had been left underneath it. There were tears in the waitress's eyes when she read what the woman had written: "You don't owe me anything. I've been there, too. Somebody nice helped me out, the way I'm helping you. If you really want to pay me back, here is what you do: don't let this chain of love end with you."

That night when the waitress got home from work and climbed into bed, she was thinking about the money and what the woman had written. How could the woman have known how much she and her husband needed that money? With the baby due in a month, she knew how worried her husband was. As he lay sleeping next to her, she gave him a soft kiss and whispered softly, "Everything's going to be all right. I love you, Bryan." Bryan was the young man that changed the tire.

Prayer: Father in Heaven, when You sent Jesus to this world, You gave us heaven’s best. While there is certainly no way I could ever out give You, I can honor You by demonstrating a Christlike behavior to others. In Jesus name, Amen!

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Do Others See Christ in You? (Philippians 1:20–21)

Philippians 1:20-21, According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Paul’s earnest expectation and hope was to magnify Christ. His focus was entirely on Christ and zero upon himself. Paul’s desire was to magnify Christ in his body whether by life, or death. He wanted to live as Christ desired him to live, and if he had to die for Christ, then so be it. Paul wanted to live so people could see Christ in his life.

Paul was determined to "magnify" Jesus Christ in his body. This word "magnify" means "to exalt, to praise, glorify, to make great, or enlarge." As Christians, we are to magnify the Lord.

We can magnify Him to an unbelieving world where He is so often minimized, mocked and misrepresented. We can glorify Him in the presence of those who are blind to His glory. We can demonstrate His grace to those who have never seen it, or known it.

People wonder what the purpose of life is today and what they are here for. The Christian knows the answer to those questions. We have a purpose for living and that purpose is to glorify Christ and live for Him, not self, glory or fame.

A group of prospectors set out from Bannock, Montana in search of gold. They went through many hardships and several of the men died. Defeated, discouraged and downhearted, the prospectors sought to make their way back to the capital city. On one occasion as they rode to a creek side, one of the men casually picked up a little stone from the creek bed. He called to his buddy for a hammer and upon cracking the rock, he said, "It looks as though there may be gold here. We had struck it!" They made their way back to Bannock & vowed not to breathe a word concerning this gold strike.

They secretively set about re-equipping themselves with supplies for another prospecting trip. But when they got ready to go back, 300 men followed them. Who had told on them? No one spoke a word. Their beaming faces betrayed the secret!

Can others see Jesus, is you? When you got saved, you got a greater treasure than ten thousand mountains of gold. Like those old prospectors, we should be beaming because Jesus is on the inside! If He is there, He should be visible in our lives.

Prayer, Lord, as I think of the men and women You have used to speak Your truth into my life, I am overwhelmed by the weight of my heritage of faith. So many have faithfully delivered to me! Forgive me for falling short in passing it on. Renew my commitment to taking advantage of opportunities to share Your Gospel to others. Thank You for the grace in Jesus that strengthens me. In Jesus’ name, amen.

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Transformation…Becoming More Like Christ (Romans 12:1-2)

Romans 12:1-2, I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.

A Young boy visited his grandfather’s butterfly farm and was amazed at what he learned. His grandfather showed him the cocoon’s and explained to the young boy about the transformation process (egg, larva (caterpillar), pupa (chrysalis), butterfly). The grandson noticed a particular cocoon where a butterfly was struggling to get out. While his grandfather was not looking he took a small twig and released the caterpillar from its tight quarters. A beautiful butterfly sprang forth in life but quickly fell to the ground and died. The young boy tearfully asked his grandfather why the butterfly didn’t survive? The grandfather said, “You let him out too soon. His struggle is what makes him strong. If he does not fight his way out, he will not have the strength to survive”

What went wrong? The struggle the butterfly went through to escape its cocoon was necessary to force blood into its wings so it could fly. Without it, the butterfly couldn’t survive. God is willing to do whatever it takes to make us more like Christ. Trust Him through it. Taking us through suffering, not out of it, is one of the primary means that the Spirit uses today in bringing us to God.

One of the most valuable lessons I have learned in life is to never sell my struggles short. They may be uncomfortable. They may cause great pain. But they always do me more good than harm. This is God’s purpose behind the struggles we face in life. Without them, we couldn’t survive. I will even go a step further and say that without them, we can’t thrive in the Christian life. We must learn to patiently endure them instead of looking for an easy way out. That is the way to fly.

God provides everything for the transformation. Just like a caterpillar, a believer’s transformation begins in the mind as the Word of God compels dying to self, shedding our will and submitting to God’s will. Though process-time varies, you can be assured your chrysalis is a work protected by your Creator and transformed for His glory!

It is our travail that gives way to our triumph. Too often we ask the Lord to release us from our burdens, when in reality, those very burdens are being used by God to develop patience, devotion and strength. It is the struggle that makes us strong. Keep fighting and believing your way through; on the other side you will break forth in liberty and freedom from that adverse circumstance as a beautiful testimony of God’s transforming power and grace.

PRAYER: Father, teach me that I may know how to be more Christlike so I may please You and that You would be glorified. I know that I will never accomplish this with out the Holy Spirit. So right now I yield to Him. In Jesus name, Amen!

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Missing the Mark (Romans 3:23)

Romans 3:23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;

During the 2004 Olympics, archer Matt Emmons was one shot away from a gold medal. He was competing in the 50-meter three position rifle event and he was in perfect position to claim victory. He didn’t even need a bulls-eye; all he needed to do to win was to hit the target to win the gold. However, standing in lane two, Emmons took a shot and nailed it. He hit the target in the third lane. He hit the wrong target. He missed his mark. As a result, he received zero points and landed in eighth place. You see, like Emmons, we all have “fallen short of the glory of God”. We have all missed the mark from time to time.

We were created in the image of God (Genesis 1:26-27). Yet, from the entrance of sin and its darkness (Genesis 3), we have fallen far short of our Creator’s glory. Doing good works is honorable, but not good enough when God expects, and demands, perfection. The righteousness of God is demonstrated throughout the Scripture. Yet, because of the corrupting presence of sin, we have fallen far short of His righteousness and His glory.

Every person born into the human race since the fall has been under a death sentence. No matter how good or moral a person may be, “all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23). And “the wages of sin is death” (Romans 6:23). We needed deliverance from death, but our righteousness could never be equal to the task. The best person, no matter how hard he or she tries, will still come short of the glory of God. Someone may say, "I'm as good as any person who goes to your church." That may be true, but God doesn't grade "on the curve"; He demands 100% righteousness. True, some come closer than others, but all will come short.

But in the midst of our imperfections, weaknesses and fatal mistakes stands a Saviour who reminds us of His righteousness. We do not have to be perfect because He is perfect. Our standing is in Christ, therefore, we must stand in Him. Through Him we become the righteousness of God. I do not have to always be “on target” because through Him I have already won the gold.

Jesus being perfect and sinless had nothing for which to atone, so His perfect righteousness was available to be our deliverance. He did not just cover our sins, but He removed them and replaced them with His righteousness so that we could be delivered from death. What a wonderful truth! That Jesus would actually bare your sins upon His own body and suffer the crucifixion for you. You will stand before God as though you have never sinned, not because your sinless, but because of your account.

We had a debt that we owed to God that we could not pay (Romans 5:12). He who knew no sin became as sin that we who knew no righteousness could be made the righteousness of God in Christ (II Corinthians 5:21). He would place all of His righteousness upon my record so that I might be viewed upon by God as having the righteousness of Christ. Now that’s a loving God! Do you realize all that you will miss if you reject Christ as your Saviour?

PRAYER, Father I thank You for Jesus who paid the sin debt that I owed and could never repay. Although I strive to live righteously, I still fall short of perfection. I thank You that my standing is “in Christ” and His shed blood has washed my sins away. In Jesus name, Amen!

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​ He is Risen (Matthew 28:6)

Matthew 28:6, He is not here: for he is risen, as he said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay.

Over 500 people saw Jesus after the resurrection and before His ascension up to heaven. These people were so impacted by seeing a living Saviour with their own eyes that they were willing to die before they denied it. The passion they lived with for Jesus helped change the world. May the reality of Jesus resurrection cause you to burn with passion and purpose. May you have the boldness to suffer with Him before you ever deny Him!

Jesus endured horrendous torture and an excruciatingly, painful death that we might have eternal life with Him. Remember that the next time you feel the pressure to give up, cave in, or quit. Jesus faced death on the cross and God was still God, He was still on the throne, and He still had all power. Remember that the next time you are facing a challenge.

The fact that you will face tribulation in this world does not lessen the power of God in any way. It should actually motivate you to tap into it with your faith. The devil lost the day Jesus gave up the ghost. The foolish devil thought he was destroying Jesus, but he actually helped give Jesus the ultimate victory. When the first drop of Jesus’ blood hit the ground it sealed Satan’s fate forever.

No matter what you are facing this morning, you have to remember that God is still God. He is still on the throne. The Lord God omnipotent reigns. He still loves you unconditionally. Knowing this, you know that you will overcome, because Jesus already overcame for you!

What impact does the Resurrection of Jesus do for us today? No matter how dead your dreams, your goals, your marriage, your relationships, your career, etc., may seem, know that through Christ you can rebound! Jesus was dead, but He arose again. What dead issue needs to be resurrected in your life? Whatever it is, take it to God in prayer, do or say whatever He leads you to do or say, and watch Him turn your hopeless situation around.

PRAYER: Father, I thank You this morning for Jesus! May I never cease to give You the praise for what Jesus did for me. He willingly endured the pain of the cross for me. Jesus took my place on Calvary. No matter what I face, I know that You are still God and I still have a purpose. I honor Jesus’ sacrifice today and everyday by becoming a conduit of His light and His love to others. In Jesus name, Amen!

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