Today’s Reading, Luke 12-13
Focal Scripture: Luke 12:3 “Therefore, whatever you have said in the dark will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered in an ear in private rooms will be proclaimed on the housetops.”
I have said it before and will say it again that not being your true self in private and publicly is a problem. This really applies to believers because it is an issue of character. I have been around people who would sing the praises of others to their face but behind their backs would degrade them and ridicule them. I have seen lost people act that way and even a professing believer who was in a position of prominence. I am not sure why this sin gets a free pass in our culture. However, this action causes many people to lose respect for believers and the faith.
In today’s reading Jesus calls out religious hypocrites. He lets them know that whatever they say behind closed doors will eventually come to light. The things you whispered to other people, will be proclaimed for all to hear. Jesus was specifically using the Pharisees as an example to point out their hearts. He wanted his hearers to be aware that words matter and secrets never stay secret forever.
I really wish people understood the damage they cause to others by the words they speak. I was once around a church where gossip was almost a sport. They would say one thing to people’s faces but then go around and say something else behind their backs. This issue was not only tolerated in the church amongst the members but it was consistently done by the pastor. This individual would attack peoples spiritual condition, call them names, and belittle the church he served. Then would publicly say the opposite to win favor from people who were influential.
The purpose of today’s devotional is to highlight that nothing we say will stay hidden. One day that church and pastor will give an account for anything they have said behind peoples back. It will be revealed to everyone in the end. This also holds true for you and for me! Our speech that we believe has been hidden will be revealed before everyone.
Our goal is to always say what we mean and mean what we say. It doesn’t matter if we are in private or in public. It doesn’t matter how upset or frustrated we are about a situation. Our words matter. Our words bring life or they bring death.
So I ask you today would you be ok with your private conversations being made public? How do you speak about others when nobody else is around? Would you be a life giver or a life destroyer?
Everything we do represents the gospel.
Tomorrow, I plan on reading Luke 14-16
