Speak The Truth

It is the everyday humdrum of our life that can and will if we let it create havoc of our heart, of our mind and spirit. Such that, we become unhappy with ourselves, thus with others as well. And, honestly, the brunt of all of this is suffered within the immediate family and eventually extends itself into other relationships. Lately, I’ve had “talks” with others who face such situations and claim they don’t know what to do about it.
The interesting thing about it all is that they know what they need to do but find it so difficult to do it. I relate with this because I have experienced similar plights. I recognize that at this season in my life I can share and encourage others. I am seasoned enough to know that encouraging is not always accepted as inspiring nor reassuring. But, that’s my purpose at this point and I parallel the scriptures in this.
Serving others is not a “popularity contest.” In ministry, it definitely is not. I haven’t found a true prophet that was out to win such contests in the Old Testament. Their purpose was to serve God and then the people. Most of them owned nothing or very little if that. They spoke the Word from God. And, the message had to be succinct, on target express what God said. It didn’t matter at all, how in vogue the message was or not.
1 Kings shares the stories of Elijah, the prophet. One time he went before the people and said, “How long will you waver between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him; but if Baal is God, follow him. But the people said nothing.” 1 Kings 18:21. He was succinct in this challenge. He was telling them to take a stand! I ask myself, “Why did the people waver?” Even today, I ask, “Why do you waver? Why do I waver?” I find it is simply due to our human nature.
We prefer the easy way. We prefer not to involve ourselves in that which requires much from us; commitment, obedience, study, discernment, prayer, building our relationships and yielding to a higher authority. It becomes a life around me and it becomes a life about my “wants” and desires.
We listen to what we want to hear and fail to respond to what we don’t. Elijah knew this but that didn’t stop him from telling God’s truth. Popular, he perhaps wasn’t, but truthful in the telling of God’s Word; he was.