The Daily Readings for FRIDAY, February 3, 2018 - Four Chaplains' Day

Soldiers Coming to Arrest Christ
John 7:32-36

Daily Readings

Genesis 24:28-38, 24:49-51

Then the girl ran and told her mother's household about these things. Rebekah had a brother whose name was Laban; and Laban ran out to the man, to the spring. As soon as he had seen the nose-ring, and the bracelets on his sister's arms, and when he heard the words of his sister Rebekah, "Thus the man spoke to me," he went to the man; and there he was, standing by the camels at the spring. He said, "Come in, O blessed of the LORD. Why do you stand outside when I have prepared the house and a place for the camels?" So the man came into the house; and Laban unloaded the camels, and gave him straw and fodder for the camels, and water to wash his feet and the feet of the men who were with him. Then food was set before him to eat; but he said, "I will not eat until I have told my errand." He said, "Speak on." So he said, "I am Abraham's servant. The LORD has greatly blessed my master, and he has become wealthy; he has given him flocks and herds, silver and gold, male and female slaves, camels and donkeys. And Sarah my master's wife bore a son to my master when she was old; and he has given him all that he has. My master made me swear, saying, 'You shall not take a wife for my son from the daughters of the Canaanites, in whose land I live; but you shall go to my father's house, to my kindred, and get a wife for my son.' Now then, if you will deal loyally and truly with my master, tell me; and if not, tell me, so that I may turn either to the right hand or to the left." Then Laban and Bethuel answered, "The thing comes from the LORD; we cannot speak to you anything bad or good. Look, Rebekah is before you, take her and go, and let her be the wife of your master's son, as the LORD has spoken."

Hebrews 12:12-29

Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees, and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint, but rather be healed. Pursue peace with everyone, and the holiness without which no one will see the Lord. See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no root of bitterness springs up and causes trouble, and through it many become defiled. See to it that no one becomes like Esau, an immoral and godless person, who sold his birthright for a single meal. You know that later, when he wanted to inherit the blessing, he was rejected, for he found no chance to repent, even though he sought the blessing with tears. You have not come to something that can be touched, a blazing fire, and darkness, and gloom, and a tempest, and the sound of a trumpet, and a voice whose words made the hearers beg that not another word be spoken to them. (For they could not endure the order that was given, "If even an animal touches the mountain, it shall be stoned to death." Indeed, so terrifying was the sight that Moses said, "I tremble with fear.") But you have come to Mount Zion and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem, and to innumerable angels in festal gathering, and to the assembly of the firstborn who are enrolled in heaven, and to God the judge of all, and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect, and to Jesus, the mediator of a new covenant, and to the sprinkled blood that speaks a better word than the blood of Abel. See that you do not refuse the one who is speaking; for if they did not escape when they refused the one who warned them on earth, how much less will we escape if we reject the one who warns from heaven! At that time his voice shook the earth; but now he has promised, "Yet once more I will shake not only the earth but also the heaven." This phrase, "Yet once more," indicates the removal of what is shaken-- that is, created things-- so that what cannot be shaken may remain. Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us give thanks, by which we offer to God an acceptable worship with reverence and awe; for indeed our God is a consuming fire.

John 7:14-36

About the middle of the festival Jesus went up into the temple and began to teach. The Jews were astonished at it, saying, "How does this man have such learning, when he has never been taught?" Then Jesus answered them, "My teaching is not mine but his who sent me. Anyone who resolves to do the will of God will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my own. Those who speak on their own seek their own glory; but the one who seeks the glory of him who sent him is true, and there is nothing false in him. "Did not Moses give you the law? Yet none of you keeps the law. Why are you looking for an opportunity to kill me?" The crowd answered, "You have a demon! Who is trying to kill you?" Jesus answered them, "I performed one work, and all of you are astonished. Moses gave you circumcision (it is, of course, not from Moses, but from the patriarchs), and you circumcise a man on the sabbath. If a man receives circumcision on the sabbath in order that the law of Moses may not be broken, are you angry with me because I healed a man's whole body on the sabbath? Do not judge by appearances, but judge with right judgment." Now some of the people of Jerusalem were saying, "Is not this the man whom they are trying to kill? And here he is, speaking openly, but they say nothing to him! Can it be that the authorities really know that this is the Messiah? Yet we know where this man is from; but when the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from." Then Jesus cried out as he was teaching in the temple, "You know me, and you know where I am from. I have not come on my own. But the one who sent me is true, and you do not know him. I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me." Then they tried to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him, because his hour had not yet come. Yet many in the crowd believed in him and were saying, "When the Messiah comes, will he do more signs than this man has done?" The Pharisees heard the crowd muttering such things about him, and the chief priests and Pharisees sent temple police to arrest him. Jesus then said, "I will be with you a little while longer, and then I am going to him who sent me. You will search for me, but you will not find me; and where I am, you cannot come." The Jews said to one another, "Where does this man intend to go that we will not find him? Does he intend to go to the Dispersion among the Greeks and teach the Greeks? What does he mean by saying, 'You will search for me and you will not find me' and 'Where I am, you cannot come'?"

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted.

Prayer of the Day for FRIDAY, February 3, 2018 - Four Chaplains' Day

Holy God, you inspired the Dorchester chaplains to be models of steadfast sacrificial love in a tragic and terrifying time: Help us to follow their example, that their courageous ministry may inspire chaplains and all who serve, to recognize your presence in the midst of peril; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen

Verse of the Day for FRIDAY, February 3, 2018

John 15:13 (NIV) Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.

Read all of John 15

Listen to John 15

Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

Morning Devotions with Chaplain Kenny - The Finest Thing This Side Of Heaven

The Finest Thing This Side Of Heaven

Jesus said, “As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you. Now remain in my love. If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love. I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command. I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master’s business. Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you. You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you so that you might go and bear fruit—fruit that will last—and so that whatever you ask in my name the Father will give you. This is my command: Love each other.

~ John 15:9-17 (NIV)

The year was 1943. The U.S.A.T. Dorchester, a ship that once was a luxury liner, had been pressed into service and refitted. On January 22nd, the second winter of the war, it was ready to serve as a troop transport and cargo ship, staffed by a merchant marine crew of 130 men. 751 soldiers came aboard and settled in berths below, stacked four-high, heading out to the cold North Atlantic as part of a convoy of freighters, tankers, and Coast Guard cutters.

Four Chaplains came aboard, all First Lieutenants: George Fox (Methodist), Alexander Goode (Jewish), John Washington (Catholic) and Clark Poling (Reformed). Fr. Washington was from an Irish Catholic family in Newark NJ. At age 12, he miraculously recovered from a nearly fatal throat infection. He told his sister, “God must have something special for me to do.” Rabbi Goode was a 3rd-generation Rabbi. At age 10 at Arlington Cemetery he saw the WWI Unknown Soldier laid to rest. When the US entered the war Goode left his synagogue in York PA and reported for duty. Clark Poling gave up a law career in Michigan to enter seminary. When he completed his training and was ordained, he served for a while at the First Reformed Church of Schenectady, NY. When the war came, he was married, with a 2-year old son, and his wife was expecting another. Poling wrote his father, “Don’t pray for my safe return. Pray that I do my duty.” George Fox was a decorated WWI veteran. After the war he served several Methodist churches in Vermont as a “circuit-rider”. When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor he told his wife, “I must go. I know what these boys are facing.”

The moment these four met onboard they became instant friends, and from that time forward were always seen together. This was before the days of ecumenism, yet these military clergy were inseparable, bound by a mission to serve God and country, with the understanding that the concept of one’s “congregation” goes beyond church lines.

Aboard the Dorchester, Captain Danielson cautiously ordered the men to sleep in their clothing, with life jackets close at hand. Nazi submarines and U-boats were on the prowl. During the day, they were under air cover from the US base at Greenland. During the passage daily alerts and drills were conducted on board. And as is the case during war, attendance at worship services continued to steadily grow. In addition to services, to boost morale and stave off boredom, the Chaplains organized a talent show, and it turned out they were part of the show. Soldiers played guitar, bagpipes and piano. There were sing-a-longs and solos.

The chaplains spent much of their time doing “ministry of presence”, having informal conversations, doing “footlocker counseling” with the troops and visiting the sick. They tried to break the tension of the voyage. Chaplain Washington came upon a poker game and a soldier at the table asked, “Father would you bless my hand? Washington took a peek, then answered, “What? Waste a blessing on a measly pair of deuces?” A few days later, a seasick soldier said to him, “Father, if you really want to do some good, get me out on deck so I can jump overboard.” The priest gave him some soda crackers for his seasickness and convinced him to join him in a game of cards.

As officers, the Chaplains knew the destination, but this classified information had been withheld from the troops, although rumors were abounding. One soldier tried to get the Rabbi to reveal where they were going. Pledged to operational security, Chaplain Goode replied, “Why spoil the surprise?” However, when the Dorchester docked in St. John’s, Newfoundland, everyone correctly guessed that the convoy was headed for Greenland, and passing through what was called “torpedo junction”.

As the ships journeyed north through gale-force winds, the sonar picked up the presence of a submarine. It was February 3rd, and the soldiers were in their bunks, but few could sleep. The heat of the hold, and fear, kept them awake. Then at 12:55 am, 150 miles from their destination, a periscope from a German U-456 caught the Dorchester in its cross hairs, and fired, hitting the lower midsection of the ship on the starboard side. The hit was deadly and decisive. PFC John Garey was just coming off guard duty and was on his way to the galley for coffee. He heard a thump and then felt the deck lurch under his feet. “What’s going on?”, he yelled to the mess sergeant. The cook answered, “We’ve been hit!” Panicked men started pouring up from the bowels of the ship, stunned and disoriented. The smell of ammonia filled the air from burst refrigerator pipes. The Dorchester began listing to starboard.

No one sent up a distress flare, so most of the other vessels in the convoy were unaware that the Dorchester had been hit. The power was knocked out and the ship was unable to make radio contact with the escort ships. Two of them, the CGC Comanche and the CGC Escanaba, saw the flash of the explosion and were able to rescue 230 troops. The testimony of survivors reveals that the only order in this chaos came from the four chaplains, who immediately appeared on the sloping starboard side. Through the pandemonium, they calmly quieted the men and guided them to their boat stations; they opened a storage locker and distributed life jackets.

Private William Bednar was floating in the oil-polluted water, surrounded by debris and dead bodies. He was close enough to the ship to hear his fellow soldiers crying, praying, and swearing. But he said, “I could also hear the chaplains preaching courage.” Bednar managed to get onto a life raft. He said, “The voices of the chaplains were the only thing that kept me going.” The four offered prayers for the dying and encouragement for those who would live.

Coast Guardsman John Mahoney realized he’d forgotten his gloves and started back to his bunk. Chaplain Goode stopped him and said, “Never mind—I have two pairs.” Mahoney later realized that a man about to abandon ship doesn’t carry extra gloves. Rabbi Goode had already decided he wasn’t leaving the Dorchester. Mahoney later reported, “Without the Chaplain’s gloves my fingers would have frozen stiff. I would have never made it. I owe my life to Chaplain Goode.”

The four chaplains handed out life vests until there were no more left. Then they gave away their own. They didn’t call out for soldiers from their own faith groups; they just handed them to the next soldier in line. Engineer Grady Clark slipped into the water and swam for a lifeboat. He looked back at the ship and could see the chaplains standing with their arms linked, braced against the slanting aft deck. They were praying. There was no sense of panic, just words of prayer in Latin, Hebrew, and English.

Finally, about a half hour after being hit, the stern came high out of the water, and the Dorchester sank into the sea. Of the 904 men aboard, 605 lost their lives. The survivors never forgot the Chaplains’ heroism. Survivor John Ladd said: “It was the finest thing I have ever seen, or hope to see, this side of heaven.”

Carl Sandburg once said, “Valor is a gift. Those having it never know for sure whether they have it until the test comes.” For their sacrificial bravery, the four Chaplains were posthumously awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and Purple Heart, along with a special Congressional Medal for Heroism, minted exclusively for these four men. In 1951 at Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, President Truman dedicated the Chapel of the Four Chaplains, a non-denominational sanctuary dedicated to promote interfaith cooperation and respect. Inside are 3 altars, Catholic, Protestant, and Jewish, in honor of our nation’s respect for religious diversity and our privilege of free exercise. The four Chaplains were also depicted on a 1948 commemorative postage stamp.

As we celebrate (the birth of our country, Veterans Day, Memorial Day), one founded upon the principles of liberty, we are reminded that freedom isn’t free—we enjoy the blessings of liberty because of the sacrifices of those who were willing to take a stand for their country.

As Christians, we know that we are set free from the penalty of sin by the sacrifice of Christ. He represented us on the cross and died in our behalf. Jesus said, “If the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed” (John 8:36). And as our text indicates, “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (John 15:13). We in turn, are called to total commitment. Paul the Apostle states, “offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship” (Romans 12:1).

Holy God, you inspired the Dorchester chaplains to be models of steadfast sacrificial love in a tragic and terrifying time: Help us to follow their example, that their courageous ministry may inspire chaplains and all who serve, to recognize your presence in the midst of peril; through Jesus Christ our Savior, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

In Jesus,
Chaplain Kenny


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Scripture taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV® Copyright ©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.
The year was 1943. The USS Dorchester, a ship that once was a luxury liner, had been pressed into service and refitted.

Un dia a la Vez - Huye del negativismo

Huye del negativismo

Panal de miel son las palabras amables: endulzan la vida y dan salud al cuerpo.

~ Proverbios 16:24 (NVI)

¡Cuántas veces nos toca en la vida diaria convivir con personas negativas, personas que desde que abren su boca es para criticar a otros, para maldecir la vida que están viviendo! Se desaniman a cada momento y, como dicen por ahí, ¡no los calienta ni el sol!

Me refiero a las personas que van a una iglesia constantemente, que leen la Palabra y que se dicen llamar «cristianos». A estos más bien les digo «cristinos». ¿Sabes la repercusión que tiene para nuestra vida comportarnos de esa manera?

Sé que muchos de los que hoy leen este libro, o lo escuchan por la radio, se han sentido muy incómodos al tener a su alrededor personas así. Que en vez de atraerte a la iglesia para tener una vida espiritual, más bien te alejan y se convierten en piedra de tropiezo. Una piedra tan poderosa que alejan a los que le rodean y le impiden tener una vida con Jesús.

Recuerda que las palabras tienen poder y con ellas puedes bendecir o maldecir a una persona. Permitamos, pues, en este nuevo día, que lo que hablemos coincida con las cosas que hacemos. ¡Pidámosle a Dios ser reflejo de su luz y brillar sin contaminarnos con el negativismo!

Un Día a la Vez Copyright © by Claudia Pinzón

Standing Strong Through the Storm - SATAN’S TACTIC OF GUILT

SATAN’S TACTIC OF GUILT

If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.

~1 John 1:9 (NIV)

Satan’s internal tactics against us fall into two broad categories: deceit and intimidation. He continually accuses us in our own hearts to bring feelings of guilt and failure into our lives. True guilt is that which comes from disobeying God. One reason that this approach is so effective in crushing the witness of a saint is because it is partially true. We all have failed the Lord. None of us has triumphed in power over every circumstance as we could and should have done. So when Satan accuses us, we know in our hearts that there is much truth in his accusations.

But God has provided us with a way to cleanse ourselves of this sin and the guilt that accompanies it. When we realize we have failed the Lord, we confess it and He forgives and cleanses us. Once we have confessed it, the sin is gone, and our feelings of guilt are relieved.

David’s experience shows us God’s method of dealing with sin: conviction, acknowledgment, confession, seeking forgiveness, receiving forgiveness, praise and joyful service (Psalm 51; Psalm 32:3, 4; II Samuel 12:1-13). Once sin is dealt with in this manner, true guilt will disappear.

The revolutionary army told a young Christian in Chad, Africa that he must submit to old animistic tribal rituals. They wanted to destroy Christianity and stimulate patriotism and loyalty by reviving the ancient pagan customs. The leaders of the churches of the area agreed together that Christians must refuse to participate in the animistic rituals.

When the young man refused and was beaten, he stood firm in his faith. But when the authorities stripped him naked and beat him in front of his mother, sisters and other young ladies, his courage failed and he permitted them to perform the pagan rituals.

Then he felt terrible. He had failed the Lord. His guilt was heavy. Satan tried to convince him that the Lord could never again accept him. But he knew the scriptural promises of God, and he confessed his sin. The Lord forgave him and restored his joy.

He began to publicly witness to his neighbors and he was arrested. The authorities demanded that he denounce Christ or be buried alive. This time, his faith was strong and he refused to deny Christ. He was beaten and thrown into prison to await execution, but his faith grew stronger and the Lord delivered him. The oppressive government was overthrown and he was released.

RESPONSE: Today I will confess my sin and receive God’s forgiveness from the guilt so that Satan cannot use this tactic against me.

PRAYER: Pray that this simple and straight-forward process of relieving guilt through confession of sin will be the experience of every believer so Satan loses one more tactic today.

Standing Strong Through The Storm (SSTS), a daily devotional message by SSTS author Paul Estabrooks. © 2011 Open Doors International. Used by permission.

The NIV Couples Devotional - Cue Cards for Praise

Cue Cards for Praise

Psalm 95:1–11

Come, let us sing for joy to the LORD; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

~ Psalm 95:1 (NIV)

Imagine meeting someone famous and having to keep that news to yourself. Or what if you had pictures of your first child and no one to show them to? Praise and thanksgiving beg for company; joining with other voices makes the worship so much sweeter!

Psalm 95 tells us to find companions as we praise: “Come, let us sing . . . let us shout . . . let us bow down . . . let us kneel before the LORD our Maker” (Psalm 95:1,6). Marriage gives us a companion in praise—someone to share all the exciting details, someone to cheer and sing and laugh with before the Lord.

Psalms is our songbook; the psalms, our cue cards for praising God. Psalm 95 puts words in our mouths to express the joy in our hearts. And if our songs have gone all mumbly and dull, this psalm helps us rejuvenate our singing together.

This song has four stanzas that give us a structure for our praise. Verses 1–2 have us on our feet, singing at the tops of our voices to our champion, the Lord. The reason for such exuberance is described in the second stanza, in verses 3–5. We worship by picturing great mountains, pounding seas and majestic sunsets. And we come away ready to trust our mountain-moving God, our sea-parting Savior, our world-holding King.

We can praise God in a similar way, but we sing this kind of praise best when we gather with God’s people in church. Don’t miss such celebrations!

The third stanza, verses 6–7a, is an entirely different kind of melody; it is soft and thoughtful. This music bows our heads and brings us to our knees. We sing softly that the great God who made us is the Good Shepherd who feeds and leads us, who guards and guides our lives.

Try worshiping by recounting God’s provision—your first apartment, for example, or unexpected money when things were very tight. Praising God for his “shepherd care” is important for our future, for it is how we learn to trust God to guide us through the next dark valley or be our protection in a troubled tomorrow.

Psalm 95 ends in a minor key (verses 7b–11), reminding us of what happens when we fail to let worship shape our will and our ways. Israel had sung songs about God’s greatness and care when he had miraculously delivered them from Egypt and provided for them in the desert. But later, when God didn’t come through for them as quickly as they wanted, the people lost faith in the God they had sung about, and they ended up being prohibited from entering the promised land, the place where God intended to give them “rest” (verse 11).

What a great reminder to be full of praise—praise that is both exuberant and humble. When we worship God in our times of triumph, it prepares us to trust God in our times of struggle and prevents us from hardening our hearts toward him.

Lee Eclov

Let’s Talk

• How does worshiping God as a couple help us spiritually? How can worshiping together have the kind of variety and breadth that we see in this psalm?
• How do we worship together with other believers? What could we do to worship more effectively with them?
• When might we be most tempted to “harden [our] hearts” (Psalm 95:8) and not trust God? How can we use worship times to fortify ourselves against such temptations?

LHM Devotion - February 3, 2018 "Readiness"

Devotions from Lutheran Hour Ministries

"Readiness"

Feb. 3, 2018

(Jesus said) "And there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near."

~ Luke 21:25-28 (ESV)

For almost two days, it was the top story in the country.

The story swirled around and began with a Hawaiian employee who pressed the wrong button and activated Hawaii's Emergency Alert System. When that button was pushed, almost immediately the cell phones of every Hawaiian lit up and told them a missile attack was imminent. Lest there be any confusion, the alert added and underscored with "This is not a drill."

Well, it wasn't a drill; it was a mistake -- a mistake which saw the button-pusher being reassigned.

The reaction to the system's failure was pretty strong.

• A Hawaiian senator said, "This system failed miserably, and we need to start over."

• An FCC commissioner tweeted, "Emergency alerts are meant to keep us and our families safe, not to create false panic. We must investigate, and we must do better."

Now it is a good thing for those in authority to inspect, correct, and improve things when they go wrong. Looking to the future, with so many lives at stake, it would be a shame to see the same error repeated again and again. These leaders must do all they can to restore faith in a system which has some serious flaws.

Me, I'm not looking to the future. I'm looking to the past. More specifically, I'm wondering what went through the minds of these people when they got the word that death might be imminent. Indeed, a missile out of North Korea could hit Hawaii in 20 minutes.

With that kind of timetable, the options are extremely limited.

With everybody grabbing their car keys and heading for a non-strategic location, the roads are going to be gridlocked. Those who have family or friends are going to get on their phones to make sure everybody is aware of the incoming missile.

So, what do you do with those 20 minutes? I thought about it and came up with my list:

1. Confess my sins and rejoice in the forgiveness I already have because of the Savior.

2. Say a prayer for the many who have no Redeemer to comfort them.

3. If I could, express my apologies to and thanks for my wife.

4. Follow the Savior's advice and straighten up, raise my head, and rejoice because the result of the Savior's work is reaching completion.

THE PRAYER: Dear Lord, I give thanks that my earthly end will not be final. Because of Jesus, I have been given forgiveness and an assurance that my eternity will be with my Savior and all who have been called to faith. While there is time, may the unbelievers of the world be reached, turned, and become Your redeemed children. In Jesus' Name I pray. Amen.

Use these devotions in your newsletter and bulletin! Used by permission; all rights reserved by the Int'l LLL (LHM).
For almost two days, this was the top story in the country.

Хліб Наш Насущній - Як змінити життя

Як змінити життя

Читати: Приповістей 15:4; 16:24; 18:21
Біблія за рік: Вихід 31−33 ; Матвія 22:1-22
Завантажити MP3

Приємні слова − щільниковий то мед, солодкий душі й лік на кості.

— Приповістей 16:24

Інколи наше життя може змінитися завдяки могутньому впливу інших людей. Для легенди рок-н-рола Брюса Спрінгстіна таким впливом була творчість музикантів – вона допомагала йому пройти крізь важке дитинство й потім долати постійну депресію. Він сказав: “Однією піснею ви можете за три хвилини змінити чиєсь життя”.

Не лише вражаюча пісня, але й правильно вибрані слова можуть дати комусь надію, навіть змінити напрямок життя. Я впевнена, що кожен із нас може розповісти про чиїсь свідоцтва, що назавжди вплинули на наше життя: слова вчителя змінили наш світогляд; слова підбадьорення відновили нашу впевненість; лагідні слова друга допомогли нам пройти крізь важкі часи.

Можливо, саме тому автор Книги Приповістей багато уваги приділяє нашій відповідальності пильнувати свої слова й мудро їх використовувати. Святе Письмо ніколи не ставиться легковажно до наших слів. Навпаки, вчить, що від них інколи залежить життя інших людей (Пр. 18:21). Достатньо кількох грубих слів, щоб зламати чийсь дух. І достатньо кількох слів надії, щоб підбадьорити та зміцнити інших (Пр. 15:4).

Не всі мають здатність писати музику. Але кожен із нас може прагнути Божої мудрості, щоб правильними словами служити іншим (Пс. 141:3). Через наші обережні, мудрі й доречні слова Бог може змінити чиєсь життя.

Господи, допоможи ніколи не сприймати як належне могутній дар мови. Навчи використовувати слова мудро, щоб зміцняти інших, вказуючи їм на ту надію, що маємо в Тобі.

Бог дав нам силу впливати на життя інших своїми словами.

Автор Моніка Брандс

© 2018 Хліб Наш Насущній
“Однією піснею ви можете за три хвилини змінити чиєсь життя”.