The Threat Of Talking Too Much

Arthur Rubenstein began playing the piano at the age of three. Before he was five years old, he performed his first concert before a large audience. He went on to become one of the world’s most famous and celebrated pianists.

Once, during his career, he developed a difficult and persistent case of hoarseness, almost losing his voice. The press began to release reports that he had developed cancer. As a result of all that was being said, he decided to consult with a throat specialist.

After a thirty-minute consultation, the doctor shaking his head said, “Come back tomorrow, Mr. Rubenstein.” That frightened the pianist and he spent a sleepless night, tossing and turning.

The next day, after a much longer and more thorough examination, the pianist with a frightened look on his face, asked the doctor, “What’s wrong with me.”

“Nothing,” said the doctor, “except that you talk too much.”

Solomon wisely warned us saying, “Don’t talk too much, for it fosters sin. Be sensible and turn off the flow.”

Talking is natural and normal, but rarely neutral. We all have opinions about nearly everything and almost everyone we know. Even though most of our opinions and observations are accurate, there are times when they may be incorrect. And even though we think that we may be “speaking the truth in love,” our words may be harmful and hateful, bringing damage or destruction to the lives of others. Better not to speak at all than to speak words that can never be erased and bring pain and suffering to others.

Prayer: Lord, “May the words of our mouths and the meditations of our hearts, always be acceptable to You” and therefore helpful to others. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Proverbs 10:19 When words are many, transgression is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is prudent.

Why Mothers Matter

WHY MOTHERS MATTER

As the young man was saying his final goodbyes to his mother, through tear filled eyes, she asked, “Robert, will you make one final promise to me?”

“Yes, ma’am,” he responded with a promise in his voice.

“Promise me,” she begged, “that every night before you lie down to sleep, that you will read a chapter from the Bible and pray.”

Hesitatingly, but sincerely, he replied, “I will.”

Sometime later, keeping that promise led to his conversion to Christ. One day as he was walking on a country road in Scotland, he saw a poster announcing a missionary meeting. He decided to attend that meeting and while listening to the message, “God prompted the heart of the youth to become a missionary.” Soon after attending that meeting, God called him to become a missionary to South Africa.

He labored among the Bacchanals for twelve years before there were any conversions. His loyalty to them finally lead to a revival that eventually spread to other tribes in the region and many came to know Christ.

As the revival spread and the church grew, he realized the need that the people had for a copy of the New Testament in their own language. He realized that if they were to learn God’s Word and live God’s way, they had to have a Bible. So, he not only translated the Scriptures, he procured a printing press to print it.

Robert Moffat opened the jungles to the Gospel; he braved their dangers, withstood the threats of medicine men, taught the natives to read, write, sing and farm and wrote two books about missions. What an impact one mother’s request had on her son!

Prayer: Heavenly Father, we realize the importance of a mother’s influence and we ask that You equip and enable them to influence their children in Your ways. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: 2 Timothy 3:13-16 But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings which are able to instruct you for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

The Importance of Communication

Samuel Morse was a man of many talents. He was a professional artist, inventor of the electric telegraph and originator of the Morse code.

He once went to England to study art. After his arrival and settling into a regular routine, he realized that it would take months before he would receive a letter from his mother.

Distressed, he wrote her, “Three thousand miles aren’t passed over in an instant.” After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Why must this be?”

It was that question that challenged him to begin experimenting with long distance communication. After a period of thinking and drawing many sketches of what an electric telegraph might look like, he began to experiment with long distance communication. After some time, and with God’s help, he invented the telegraph and sent his first message: “What hath God wrought?”

It was his love for his mother that led him to action. And it was God’s love that led Him to send His Son to redeem us. It was that act of redemption that enables us to communicate directly with Him and make our requests known to Him.

One day Jesus was talking with His disciples about the importance of prayer and the necessity of being persistent in our prayers to God. He told them the story of a widow who demanded that God answer her prayer. He told them of the need for constant prayer and the importance of never giving up on God.

He did not tell them to offer endless repetitions of empty words or lengthy prayers to God. Rather, they were to continually make their requests until God heard their pleas and answered them.

Prayer: Lord, give us the determination to come boldly to the throne of grace, and with confidence and persistence, make our requests known until You grant them. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Luke 18:1 And he told them a parable, to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart.

The Call To Courage

When Pat Summerall was born his right foot was twisted backwards. No one believed that the problem could be corrected. Expert orthopedic surgeons and other specialists said the problem was beyond repair. But one doctor believed differently. He broke the bones, turned the foot around and then reset all of the bones. However, no one believed that he would ever be able to do much with that foot.

Soon after he was able to walk, he decided to try to run. He struggled in pain, but never gave up and with courage and determination he became an outstanding athlete in high school and college. He went on to play professional football and during his career kicked 101 field goals and 258 extra points.

One of the greatest Jewish leaders in all of history was Moses. He was well educated, a prophet and lawgiver, recorded the Ten Commandments and was the author of the Pentateuch. In Moses we see an outstanding leader who was shaped and molded by God. God took the strengths of Moses and sharpened them until he was suited to fulfill God’s purpose for his life. God worked with him until he was able to do what God wanted him to do.

In his final address to the people of Israel he spoke from his personal experience. “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid of them! The LORD your God will go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor forsake you!”

These most encouraging words of Moses did not end when the children of Israel entered the Promised Land. Their echo can be heard across the ages and will ring in our ears this very day if we are open to the voice of God. These words from Moses state a promise from God that is as valid today as it was then.

Prayer: Give us the faith, Lord, to take You at Your word and realize that no matter the handicaps or hardship that come to us in life, with Your strength we can be “over-comers.” In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear or be in dread of them: for it is the Lord your God who goes with you; he will not fail you or forsake you.”

Seeing What Is Not Seen

When Michelangelo was a young boy and determined to become an artisan, he went to visit a sculptor. Knowing of his interest in bringing objects to life, the artist gave him a young man half chiseled out of marble. For years he kept the object by his side and looked forward to the day when he would be able to free figures from stone.

Jesus possessed the ability to see what men and women could become. In John’s Gospel the story of Andrew bringing Simon to Jesus reflects this ability. “When Andrew brought Simon to meet Jesus, looking intently at Simon, Jesus said ‘You are Simon, the son of John – but you will be called Cephas, which means Peter.’”

In this intriguing story, Jesus looked at Simon and saw his potential – who he was and who he would become. That is precisely why He gave him a new name which meant Peter – which in Greek meant “Rock.”

Throughout the Gospels, Peter is not portrayed as being one who is “rock-solid” – an immovable object that would make a foundation safe and secure. But over time, as he grew in His faith and did the work of his Lord, he did become a solid rock for the faith that was established in the early church. By giving him such a significant name, Jesus introduced him to the person he would become by the grace of God.

What Peter became through the grace of God is what each of us can become. Peter tried and failed but he did not give up. He denied Jesus and turned his back on Him but he did not leave Him. Though he faltered and failed, he was one who never failed to follow Jesus and eventually become who God wanted him to be.

Prayer: Lord, we admit that we often fail in being and doing what You have planned for us. But give us a heart-desire to never leave You nor forsake You as we struggle to please You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Scripture for Today: John 1:40-42 Jesus looked at him, and said, “So you are Simon the son of John? You shall be called Cephas” (which means Peter).