Samuel D. High
sdhigh@aristotle.net
-----Original Message-----
From: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Sent: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 05:52:49 -0500
To: "Smith, Lynn " <lsmith20@Central.UH.EDU>
Subject: Morning Manna Apr. 29-BP: Num. 13; RBTTY: Lk. 20:27-47; I Kings 6-7
April 29 “On Discouraging Others In Words”
“And they told him and said, ‘We came unto the land where you sent us and surely it flows with milk and honey—and this is the fruit of it. Nevertheless, the people be strong that dwell in the land and the cities are walled and very great—and, moreover, we saw the children of Anak there. . .But the men that went up with him said, ‘We are not able to go up against the people—for they are stronger than us. . .and we were in our own sight as grasshoppers and so were we in their sight’.”
Numbers 13:27-28, 31, 33b
They’re more powerful than we realize and we should always be careful out we use them.
Words.
An essential part of our lives, these tools of communication and interaction have the ability to edify, erode or eradicate. Although physical blows may leave us wounded and reeling, words can damage us in ways that can affect us for a lifetime. That’s why the one who coined the phrase, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words can never hurt me” didn’t know what he/she was talking about.
King David knew the importance of words; that’s why he wrote, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight, O Lord, my Strength and my Redeemer” (Ps. 19:14). Likewise, that’s why his son, Solomon, said “Words fitly spoken are as apples of gold in picture frames of silver” (Prov. 25:11).
Yes, words are powerful tools for advancing or hindering God’s Kingdom.
Such was certainly the case in today’s Manna. The Lord had told Moses to send spies into the Promised Land of Canaan (Num. 13:1) to search it out, which they did (vv.2-24). Upon their return, they brought back evidence of its bounty and a report that it was exactly as God had told them (vv.25-27).
But, then, they said “Nevertheless. . .”
Oh, dear Pilgrim, how often we add these cowardice, unbelieving words to “Thus saith the Lord.” Without blinking an eye we say, “Well, I know what God said, BUT . . .” –and then we wonder why we wander in the wildernesses of our own making.
Thankfully, Caleb and Joshua stood up and said, “Enough already! Let’s go up at once and possess it—for we are well able to overcome it/them” (v.30) and “If the Lord delights in us (which He does), then He will bring us into this land and give it to us—a land which flows with milk and honey; only rebel not against the Lord, neither fear the people. . .” (14:8-9a).
We know the people’s response, don’t we?
Assuredly we do. Instead of heeding the Godly duo’s admonitions, they “murmured against Moses and Aaron” (14:2), accused God Himself of bringing them out into the wilderness to die (v.3), called for the election of a captain to lead them back to Egypt (v.4) and even threatened to stone Moses, Joshua and Caleb (v.10). May the Holy Spirit help us today to “bridle our tongues” (James 3:2) lest we find ourselves discouraging others, causing them (and us) to sin against the Lord God.
Thanks,
Mr. Lynn M. Smith
Department Business Administrator
Department of Economics
204C McElhinney Hall
(713) 743-3802 (office)
(713) 743-3798 (fax)
LSmith20@central.uh.edu (email)
http://www.class.uh.edu/econ/ (department website)
No comments:
Post a Comment