The Voice

I don’t have much time to watch TV. I do like to watch YouTube on occasion. Usually it’s fishing, hunting, shooting, dirt bikes, construction, wood working, guitar, Bible study or something mechanical in nature. There are few shows my wife and I watch together regularly. The Voice happens to be one show we do like to watch together. If you’re not familiar, it’s a singing competition. I do enjoy playing guitar and writing music, but I was not born with a voice that is going to win any competitions. I’d like you to read the first half of Proverbs 18:21. “Death and life are in the power of the tongue:” I have always been intrigued with this verse. I feel like the implications of this verse are beyond our grasp. This short phrase should make us stop and pause under the weight of its instruction. Yes, this is an old-testament verse written under the law by a Jewish king. This verse however holds a spiritual truth I believe carries throughout all the dispensations. Paul says it in a different way in the second half of I Corinthians 1:21. “it pleased God by the foolishness of preaching to save them that believe.” Like it or not, you have the responsibility to preach. Like it or not, YOU and I have the power of death and life in our tongue. You and I have the opportunity to share Christ many times during each month and sometimes each week. WE DECIDE to hold our tongue or to quench the Spirit each time these opportunities arise. The famous magician Penn Jillette of the duo Penn and Teller, and proclaimed Atheist, is quoted as saying that he has no respect for anyone that claims to be a Christian but does not evangelize. He said he doesn’t understand how much you would have to hate someone to believe that they are headed to Hell and then never try to win them to Christ. (not an exact quote) I hope you clearly see the validity of this man’s opinion. Jesus was confrontational in his witness. The disciples were confrontational in their witness. Stephen was confrontational in his witness. Paul was confrontational in his witness. YOU and I must be confrontational in our witness. All I mean by this is we must use our voice. We must share Jesus with our voice. We must share the mystery with our voice. Some of us are just plain chicken. Some of us are just flat out scared to look stupid. Some of us hold the love of Christ so tightly that we hate those around us. Death and life are in the power of the tongue. Read it again: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue:” Read it again: “Death and life are in the power of the tongue:” What power does your tongue display? Death or life. God would have all men saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. Those of us that rightly divide know without a shadow of a doubt that most of our Christian friends stuck in denominational churches will never come to the complete truth. God’s plan for your life and my life is to help others accomplish these 2 things in their lives. I need to do better. You?