Wonderful Words

“This is my Son, whom I love.  Listen to him!”  Mark 9:7

As someone whose profession and passion both revolve around words, I’m starting to realize that sometimes the best thing to say is nothing at all—or, at most, not much.  Don’t hold your breath; that doesn’t mean this reflection will be brief, but it does hold hope that I’m learning to monitor what comes out of my mouth.

Sometimes the occasions for keeping speech short (or silent) are sorrowful, such as this week’s funerals for two precious friends.  Their families, both filled with heavy hearts because of their loss but hopeful hearts because of our Lord, don’t need a barrage of exclamations or explanations—not even scriptural ones.  They simply need demonstrations of love and care and the simple words, “I’m sorry.”  If you’ve ever experienced grief, you know that in the times when your mind cannot digest a dissertation, your heart still hears acts of kindness, sincere hugs, and the gift of presence.   

Other occasions that require reserve are grand and exciting—times of delight and splendor when mere words can’t capture the appropriate enormity and awe.  Three disciples got a dose of this one day when they stood on top of a mountain with the transfigured Jesus.  For a few moments, the bright and beautiful glory He gave up when He came here was restored, and they were dumbstruck.  They had never seen such light.  They had never seen such white.  And they had surely never seen two dead-f0r-several-centuries guys alive and well and talking with the Lord.  “There appeared before them Elijah and Moses, who were talking with Jesus”(Mk 9:4).

Their jaws should have dropped in terror not talk, but Peter just had to say something, so he proposed a plan. “Rabbi, it is good for us to be here.  Let us put up three shelters—on for you, one for Moses, one for Elijah”(Mk 9:6).  At that point, the Father in heaven found His voice, and a thunderous reply from above more than suggested that Peter shut up.  “A cloud appeared and enveloped them, and a voice came from the cloud, ‘This is my Son, whom I love.  Listen to him!’”(Mk 9:7).

The story of the transfiguration is a rich narrative of an incredible experience, but every time I read it, I’m also reminded of the little lesson Peter learned in a big way—sometimes it’s best to stay silent.  Take in what’s happening.  Appreciate the action.  Soak in the scenery.  Feel the loss.  Share the sorrow.  But keep the commentary quiet.  Sometimes God is too wonderful for words, and at other times His ways are too deep for discourse.   In those moments, it’s best to heed the heavenly advice—“Listen to him!”  After we hear what God has to say, we know much better what we should say, if we should say anything at all.

Speak when you must.  Shut up when you should.  And always listen to the Lord.

Words are wonderful but only when used well.

The Right Rules

“You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men.”  Mark 8:33  

Not long ago, on the national news, I heard a broadcaster use bad grammar.  I wasn’t shocked but was slightly surprised.  I shouldn’t have been. Through the past few years, slippage in speech has increased in daily conversations, media interviews, and public communications.  The errors are propagated because speakers think they are correct, and listeners, not knowing the truth, begin to say the same, and on and on it goes until misuse becomes common and moves from the neighborhood to the network.

The newscaster made a comment that included the phrase “to you and I.”  Those words are heard often, but repetition doesn’t make them right. The correct phrase is “to you and me.”  (It’s also correct to say “between you and me” and “for you and me.”)  The detailed explanation involves the use of objective pronouns, but a short way to make sure you’re saying the right thing is to get the part you’re questioning alone.  For example, if you’re trying to determine whether to say, “She’s talking about Bob and I,” or “She’s talking about Bob and me,” drop Bob and ask yourself if you would say, “She’s talking about I,” or “She’s talking about me.”  When you simplify the issue, the correct usage becomes obvious, and you can then confidently include it in more complicated conversation.

This bit of good advice applies not only to grammar but to God’s words as well.  Sometimes more is not merrier, and the abundance of opinions, declarations, and justifications from our ever-increasing immoral and amoral society serves only to confuse and confound us.  Publicly and privately we are being required to speak to a variety of issues facing our country and culture, and what we say often influences what others think—of us or of the issue.  When you’re not sure what’s right, get alone with God’s Word.  Somehow in the solitary, the correct answer is obvious, and you can then confidently include it in more complicated conversation.  Even if the listener thinks you’re wrong, you can be sure you’re right—because God always is.

The apostle Peter learned this lesson when he tried to correct Jesus.  After Peter courageously and correctly affirmed that Jesus was the Messiah, “You are the Christ,”(Mk 8:29), he took Jesus aside to straighten Him out when Jesus started teaching that He must suffer rejection and crucifixion.  Jesus’ words went against the commonly accepted dreams of a nation and desires of the disciples, and since everyone around Peter was saying one thing, he was sure Jesus was saying the wrong thing.  But He wasn’t.  “‘Get behind me, Satan!’ Jesus said. ‘You do not have in mind the things of God, but the things of men’”(Mk 8:33).  For so long, so many had been speaking incorrectly that when Someone came along who spoke correctly, they failed to recognize the truth.

The same happens here and now as we are barraged with talk that teaches both subtly and brashly that God is irrelevant, His Word unreliable, and His commands invalid. These errors are spread because speakers think they are correct, and listeners, not knowing the truth, begin to say the same, and on and on it goes until misuse becomes common and moves from the neighborhood to the network.  And beyond—into hearts, souls, lives, and laws.

When it comes to grammar, the only way to speak correctly is to know the all the rules and always apply all of them all the time (which I certainly don’t, by the way!), but much, much more importantly, the only way to live correctly is to know the rules of Godliness, to know the One who wrote the rules of Godliness, and, by His grace, to apply them to all of our lives all of the time.  

At the end of the day what we say (and how we say it) doesn’t really matter, but what God says always does—and always will.  No matter the situation, we can’t go wrong by saying His words because they are always right.

Fret or Faith

“Why are you talking about having no bread?  Don’t you remember?  Do you still not understand?’” Mark 7:17&21

A few days after Jesus fed the 5000, He fed the 4000.  The stories are similar—lots of people, few provisions, and a powerful miracle.  And just as before, the follow up to the feast was a boat ride back across the lake, but this time Jesus was with His disciples and was teaching them.  “‘Be careful,’ Jesus warned them.  ‘Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod’”(Mk 7:15).  His word picture was perfect—just like a little leaven works through a lump of dough to bring about big change, so the false teachings of the Jewish rulers could lead to large problems for God’s people.  But the disciples missed the point completely. The word “leaven” reminded them of loaves, and they began to fret about lunch.  “They discussed this with one another and said, ‘Is he saying this because we have no bread?’  They had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat”(Mk 7:16,14).

Aware of their angst, Jesus rolled His eyes, shook His head, and said, “Seriously??”  Well, not exactly, but pretty much.  He questioned why there were worrying about the lack of food when they had just seen Him multiply the little into a lot.  “When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ ‘Twelve,’ they replied.  ‘And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?’ They answered, ‘Seven.’  He said to them, ‘Then why are you talking about having no bread?  Don’t you remember?  Do you still not understand?’”(Mk 7:17-21).

“Come on, guys!  Don’t you get it?  I’m going to provide for your bodies, and I want to help your hearts. Have you forgotten how I fed thousands? If you do remember, then why are fretting about food for a few?  Since I provided for the big crowd, doesn’t it make sense that I will take care of the small crew as well?”  

It does, but when faced with a pressing need, we sometimes forget God’s faithfulness in the past and focus only on our lack in the present.  We start to worry, fret, and wonder about how ends will meet, how we will have strength, or how we will ever make it through. It’s in the times that we catch ourselves filled with concern about what we don’t have that we should rewind our minds and remember how God has supplied (with surplus) in days gone by.  We should recall how He multiplied the little into a lot, and we should find comfort in His constant, continual, and ever-increasing care.

Don’t you get it?  God’s got this.  Don’t fret.  Have faith. And watch Him work.