Focus

As you quiet yourself for this brief time, be willing to be open to God in whatever way that may take place.

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Read

Romans 3:1-8 New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)

Then what advantage has the Jew? Or what is the value of circumcision? Much, in every way. For in the first place the Jews were entrusted with the oracles of God. What if some were unfaithful? Will their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Although everyone is a liar, let God be proved true, as it is written,

“So that you may be justified in your words,
and prevail in your judging.”

But if our injustice serves to confirm the justice of God, what should we say? That God is unjust to inflict wrath on us? (I speak in a human way.) By no means! For then how could God judge the world? But if through my falsehood God’s truthfulness abounds to his glory, why am I still being condemned as a sinner? And why not say (as some people slander us by saying that we say), “Let us do evil so that good may come”? Their condemnation is deserved!

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Reflect

Our words are a funny thing! Have you ever studied another language or talked to someone from a different part of the country or a different country. Sometimes, even when we are speaking the same language, we get things mixed up.

My family has been learning Spanish for the past couple of years since we moved to Colombia, South America to serve as missionaries. Without a doubt, one of the hardest parts of being a missionary is the language. We can, with all the best intentions, try to communicate something and we receive a face that immediately tells us we said something wrong or offensive.

But what about when we talk about God? What is our language like when we are teaching Sunday school or at VBS? What is our language like when we are preaching on Sunday morning or Wednesday evening? When we teach lessons to our youth group or preach at camp?

I take it serious in the book of James when it says we will be judged more strictly for what we teach. We do our best but we are also teaching about theology and many things that are uncertain. How do we remain faithful when we talk about God?

I think we try our best to be as faithful and reverent as possible. We go to God in prayer before we teach and speak. We may get it wrong at times, but we can still try our best to be faithful!

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Pray

God, our language is a powerful thing. Help us to use our words wisely today. When we speak of you, help us to be faithful and to do it in a way that pleases you. Amen.

Go with God!