The power of silence – Part 2:
• “One despising his friend lacks heart, but a man of understanding remains silent.” (Proverbs 11:12).
On the one hand, we can’t be accomplice in the works of murkiness (Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:11). But, there is moments we need to hold our peace:
• “Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you; give to a wise man, and he will love you.” (Pro 9:8).
We need to be aware that our work is to preach the truth. The work of bringing people around belong to the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 3:18-21; John 16:8).
Of course, we need to strain so that people can see the truth (2Timothy 2:25,26). This will be useful to bring to us wisdom (Proverbs 11:30) and cover to multitude of sins (James 5:19,20):
• “But if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, take one or two more with you, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax-collector.” (Mat 18:15-17).
Besides:
• “He who rebukes a man shall afterwards find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.” (Pro 28:23).
Moreover:
• “Jehovah, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill? he does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;” (Psa 15:1,3).
We can’t accept that our neighbor can be an opprobrium in the life of people around them. They are precious lives that need to be saved (Luke 15:7,10). Nonetheless, we can’t take the place of the Holy Spirit in their life.
May Jesus give us a good day full of discerning to know when to hush and when to preach. I wish that Jesus can be with our mouth as He was with Moses’ and Ezekiel’s mouth (Exodus 4:12; Ezekiel 3:26). After all, by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned (Mat 12:37).
• “One despising his friend lacks heart, but a man of understanding remains silent.” (Proverbs 11:12).
On the one hand, we can’t be accomplice in the works of murkiness (Romans 13:12; Ephesians 5:11). But, there is moments we need to hold our peace:
• “Do not reprove a scorner, lest he hate you; give to a wise man, and he will love you.” (Pro 9:8).
We need to be aware that our work is to preach the truth. The work of bringing people around belong to the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 3:18-21; John 16:8).
Of course, we need to strain so that people can see the truth (2Timothy 2:25,26). This will be useful to bring to us wisdom (Proverbs 11:30) and cover to multitude of sins (James 5:19,20):
• “But if your brother shall trespass against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he hears you, you have gained your brother. But if he will not hear you, take one or two more with you, so that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may be established. And if he shall neglect to hear them, tell it to the church. But if he neglects to hear the church, let him be to you as a heathen and a tax-collector.” (Mat 18:15-17).
Besides:
• “He who rebukes a man shall afterwards find more favor than he who flatters with the tongue.” (Pro 28:23).
Moreover:
• “Jehovah, who shall dwell in Your tabernacle? Who shall dwell on Your holy hill? he does not backbite with his tongue, nor does evil to his neighbor, nor takes up a reproach against his neighbor;” (Psa 15:1,3).
We can’t accept that our neighbor can be an opprobrium in the life of people around them. They are precious lives that need to be saved (Luke 15:7,10). Nonetheless, we can’t take the place of the Holy Spirit in their life.
May Jesus give us a good day full of discerning to know when to hush and when to preach. I wish that Jesus can be with our mouth as He was with Moses’ and Ezekiel’s mouth (Exodus 4:12; Ezekiel 3:26). After all, by our words we shall be justified, and by our words we shall be condemned (Mat 12:37).