I am excited to start using my voice more often. Yes, I am the strong, silent type…hoping my actions speak louder than words. But there is definitely a time to speak out and speak up.
Have you ever thought about where was Adam, when his wife, Eve, was getting tempted by that sneaky serpent? Would history have been any different if Adam had shouted, “Get away from my woman, Satan!”?
If God spoke and things came to life and I am called, as a Christian, to be like Christ (who spoke with such power and authority that he caught peoples attention), then I’m going to speak too! The power of the tongue has life and death in it.
For one, I’m going to speak His praises more, because I definitely have a lot to be thankful for. Looking at the recent earthquake of Haiti, a place that didn’t have a lot of things going for it to begin with, one can’t help but feel sympathy for them…even amidst our own economic and political woes.
I’m thankful for the great family, community of faith and friends he’s put me in a relationship with, so far this life. The promises He’s fulfilled and His faithfulness to me are just the beginning of where my gratitude gains momentum. Did you know that it will only be silent in heaven for half an hour? Check out Revelations 8:1. During the rest of the time, what do you think they’re all doing there? They are praising and thanking God and throwing one celebration not soon to be forgotten.
I am going to speak out about the injustices going on throughout the world. We watched a great but sobering video about the child soldiers of Uganda this morning. And sex trafficking: the modern day slave trade is a real, terrible issue which needs people to speak up and do something about…and not sit idly by.
But seriously, what are we doing on this earth…just waiting for that day when Christ will come back and make all things right? Are we just trying to survive and make it through the next week, the next paycheck…just trying to “hang on”?
I believe, we as Christians, are called to much more than just “coasting” until Christ returns, and living with such helpless, wilderness attitudes. “Christ in us, the hope of glory!” (Colossians 1:27). “If we are children (and not slaves), then we are heirs-heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ!” (Romans 8:17). Yes, the poor will always be with us, but at the same time “whatever we do for the least of these brothers of mine, we do for Him” (Matt. 25:40).
“The dead go down in silence” is what our teacher, Andrew Shearman, said this week…and to quote Monty Python, “I’m not dead yet!”
