We live in a truly crazy world. I do not check the news often, but anytime I do, I am honestly surprised time and time again at the state of this world. The things people argue about or of the things people get offended by. All the violence and hate. All of the hopelessness and fear. It all makes me think of what Jesus said in Luke 18:8.

“…Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will He really find faith on earth?”

            I can’t tell you how many times I wanted to use this blog to rant about my opinions on things. I’ve wanted to say my piece while using biblical references to back up my opinions. However, every time I’ve sat down and started writing these things down, it always felt wrong. It was never about my opinions. Instead, it was about using this blog the same way others may use their social media. I was not given the opportunity of being part of this blog so that I can vent about how I feel. God gave me this opportunity so that I may be able to share what I have learned with you. At times, that means learning how to have restraint.

“He who guards his mouth preserves his life, but he who opens wide his lips shall have destruction.” – Proverbs 13:3

            Those who don’t understand God’s word would think this means that God wants them to live their lives as a pushover. They would probably use what Jesus said about turning the other cheek to reinforce their argument. However, that’s not what that means at all. As much as we want to take justice and control into our own hands, all that will do is lead you to destruction. By learning to have restraint and allowing God to take control of the situation, we will see His will unfold in our lives. He will show you when to speak and when to stay silent. If you are to speak, He will give you the words you are to say.

“For the Holy Spirit will teach you in that very hour what you ought to say.” – Luke 12:12

            The way we know that God doesn’t want us to live our lives as pushovers is by Jesus’ example. In the past, I have talked about how Jesus remained silent when He was being accused by the Pharisees in front of Pilot. Rather than not allowing those men to lie about Him, He showed restraint. Why? Because He knew that He needed to die on the cross in order to save us. To fight would have gone against God’s will and His plan for us.

“For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation.” – Romans 5:6-11

            However, Jesus didn’t always stay silent. The example I will use can be found in Matthew 12:22-30. Here we find Jesus healing a man who was demon-possessed, blind, and mute. After He had healed the man, the Pharisees, speaking amongst themselves, said that the only way Jesus could drive out demons is if He were ruler of demons. Here Jesus teaches them by saying,

“…Every kingdom divided against itself is brought to desolation, and every city or house divided against itself will not stand. If Satan casts out Satan, he is divided against himself. How then will his kingdom stand? And if I cast out demons by Beelzebub, by whom do your sons cast them out? Therefore they shall be your judges. But if I cast out demons by the Spirit of God, surely the kingdom of God has come upon you. Or how can one enter a strong man’s house and plunder his goods, unless he first binds the strong man? And then he will plunder his house. He who is not with Me is against Me, and he who does not gather with Me scatters abroad.” – Matthew 12:25-30

            Jesus took the opportunity to teach those who were there. He allowed God to lead Him and was able to not only heal a man but to give a word of encouragement to those who would hear. In the same way, God gave me this opportunity to share what I learn with all of you so that in turn you may do the same. We are called to share His word with others. God has given me this opportunity to encourage you, not lead you. The biggest encouragement I can give you is to get to know God more by spending time with Him. Read His word. Pray to Him. Talk to Him. The things of this world are fleeting, but He is eternal.

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.” – John 1:1-5

“He who despises the word will be destroyed, but he who fears the commandment will be rewarded.” – Proverbs 13:13