While I understand the Bible contains wisdom proven true over the ages, occasionally a passage jumps out at me like it was written this morning.

Social media, always a repository of slander and innuendo, turned vile this past week with the assassination of a popular figure. Those in opposition celebrated and gloated across digital platforms, gleeful at the death of a father and husband with whom they held political and behavioral disagreements.

However, the mob giveth, and the mob taketh away. Weaponizing social media, denizens of the web reported heinous and untruthful posts to employers. Hundreds of those who cheerfully mocked a senseless death lost jobs for their impulsive rants.

Should’ve waited a day before hitting publish.

Which brings me to the Bible’s wisdom: The tongue is a small member, yet it boasts of great things. How great a forest is set ablaze by such a small fire! The tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. No human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people who are made in the likeness of God.

This past week I’ve seen unrighteousness, poison, and curses on those made in the image of God. Will it end? I’m afraid not. As James points out, no human being can tame the tongue. The temptation remains too strong to spout off.

Will repercussions follow? Of course. You cannot spit on a man’s grave and not expect blowback. Infernos launched by unconstrained speech consume both listener and speaker. This situation stands as a perfect example of the damage done by how we communicate, a forest set ablaze by tiny fires.

Personally, I cannot bridle my tongue without the Lord’s help. I need the Holy Spirit to intervene, to build love and self-control into my life. I need God to shut me up, because without His bit in my mouth, there’s no telling what I might say.

James 3:1-12

Photo by Nijwam Swargiary

I keep my ear open to shifts around the world dealing with issues of belief and religion. While I cannot point to a definitive study, it appears that younger people (those ages 16-25) are turning to the historic Christian faith in ever-increasing numbers. As one 24-year old pilgrim in France recently said, Tradition is the only safe future we have. What are you going to build your life on, if not God?

Indeed, what will you and I build our lives upon, if not God?

In this hopeful situation I’m motived by the psalmist: O God, from my youth you have taught me, and I still proclaim your wondrous deeds. So even to old age and gray hairs, O God, do not forsake me, until I proclaim your might to another generation, your power to all those to come.

I’m certainly in the gray hairs stage of life. But I can still proclaim the wondrous deeds of our Lord. Younger generations need to know of the might and power of God. Indeed, they yearn for it. True life in not found in social media or pursuing self-fulfillment. These lead instead to dead-ends of loss and despair. Discerning young people awaken to this reality and call for something greater.

And what is greater than God?

If you’re young and hip, I encourage you to pursue the Lord above all else. You will never regret that decision. If you’re old and gray and not so hip (like myself), I encourage you to join me in unapologetically proclaiming the Lord’s might and power. We cannot leave a better inheritance to those who come after us.

Psalm 71:17-18

Photo by Etienne Girardet

So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

I’m tempted to take this verse as permission to live life to the fullest, enjoy the gifts of the table and feast under the benevolent hand of God. Indeed, part of the meaning includes thoughts along these lines. But Paul wrote in the midst of a discussion on whether Christians should eat meat previously sacrificed to idols, then sold in the marketplace or served as a meal.

Paul declared all foods clean, but added the injunction for believers to guard the consciences of those new or weak in the faith. We are indeed our brothers keepers, and Paul urged each of us to avoid needless offense, so that no one stumbles on their way to the kingdom.

Whether I’m eating or drinking, or whatever activity I’m enjoying, the glory of God shines nearby. I cannot live without abandon until I give thought to those with a different set of views on a wide variety of issues. Better to defer to that voice in my head reminding me to slow down than charge ahead.

Amazingly, as a follower of Jesus I can do most anything I want. The Christian life is incredibly open and free. But I’m not at liberty to shade the glory of God. Live in freedom, but only in a manner allowing God’s love to shine into our world. The glory of God exists so that all may know Him. The least I can do is get out of His way.

1 Corinthians 10:31

Photo by Kristine Weilert

I thirst for instant results. I love searching for random facts now that we have the internet. Who holds the major league record for RBIs? To what internal temperature should I cook bone-in chicken thighs on the grill? Does an American need a visa to enter El Salvador? Super fulfilling to ask a question and have it answered in milliseconds.*

Not so much when it comes to prayer. I prayed for a friend to come to faith for years, but never saw any movement. Everyone I know who believes in prayer experiences the same frustration. Sometimes God moves slowly, or other times not at all. This feels like the norm rather than the exception.

Same was true for the people of ancient Israel as they prayed and waited, and waited and prayed. But occasionally God moved without hesitation. In dire straits, surrounded by enemies, King Hezekiah laid face down in the house of the Lord and desperately begged God to intervene.

God quickly sent word by Isaiah the prophet that his prayer was heard. Later that evening God acted: And the angel of the Lord went out and struck down 185,000 in the camp of the Assyrians. And when people arose early in the morning, behold, these were all dead bodies.

An immediate bloodbath. An immediate solution to Hezekiah’s problem. An immediate act of salvation for the nation. In my experience God moves slowly, like molasses on a cold morning. But every now and then God acts immediately and I get a glimpse of just what He can do. The Lord reminds me there’s a God in heaven who does what he wishes at his pace and his desire.

Isaiah 37

* Hack Wilson, 191 runs batted in, during his 1930 season with the Chicago Cubs; 175° – 185° F; U.S. citizens traveling for tourism or business do not need a visa for El Salvador.

Photo by Jean Gerber