Hold That Thought

“Therefore let your words be few.” Ecclesiastes 5:2b

There are a couple of “watering holes” here at Keswick, only thing is it’s not water but candy. Almost everybody knows where to satisfy that sweet tooth craving, either Bill Jahns’ office or Lynn Randall’s office. Now the parallel I’m using has nothing to do with the people or their office, it’s just to make a point.

Bills Jahns candy dish is more like a small barrel then a bowl and to be honest it’s full of some undesirables, so you have to reach in and dig around for the piece worth eating. Reminds me of the point Solomon is trying to make here as he warns about our words, specifically concerning to House of God. He says, “Do not be rash with your mouth, and let not your heart utter anything hastily before God”. Like Bill’s candy, when some people feel the need to use many useless words you have to sort thru to see if there are any worthwhile to listen to.

Now Lynn Randel’s office, on the other hand, you will find choice pieces of candy placed on a platter like dish, very few, but premium. I started thinking about the symbolism and how we need to be careful with our words by choosing the choice things to share with one another especially when we are in the House of God. How disturbing it is for someone to say “God told me” or to represent God with their own words only to find out it was their own revelation.

The book of Proverbs as well as James epistle warns us of the dangers of the tongue. I like the closing verse of Psalm 19 “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in Your sight, O LORD, my strength and my Redeemer”.

Now I can be found in Bill’s office rummaging thru his “assortment” of candy, but I would much rather be found in Lynn’s office where there are the choices pieces. Btw, I spoke with Bill and I’m assuming I have his permission to share this because when I told him I what I was writing, he laughed and laughed.

So when we come together, let us be boast in the Lord and not so much in ourselves.

Paul’s letter to Titus is inspired by destructive talk and he gives Titus great advice in chapter 3.

Rob Russomano is a graduate of the Colony of Mercy and serves full-time at America’s Keswick. You can write to Rob at rrussomano@americaskeswick.org

Daily Bible Reading: Ephesians 4-6

Think About This: It is quite right that you should feel that “something terrific” has happened to you (It has) and be “all glowy.” Accept these sensations with thankfulness as birthday cards from God, but remember that they are only greetings, not the real gift. I mean, it is not the sensations that are the real thing. The real thing is the gift of the Holy Spirit which can’t usually be—perhaps not ever—experienced as a sensation or emotion. The sensations are merely the response of your nervous system. Don’t depend on them. Otherwise when they go and you are once more emotionally flat (as you certainly will be quite soon), you might think that the real thing had gone too. But it won’t. It will be there when you can’t feel it. May even be most operative when you can feel it least. C.S. Lewis

This Week’s Verse to Memorize: I have been young, and now am old, yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his children begging for bread. Psalm 37:25