Think Then Speak

The one who guards his mouth protects his life; the one who opens his lips invites his own ruin. Proverbs 13:3

But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. Matthew 15:18

Controlling the tongue, a phrase uses for the ability to control what we say, is difficult. More problems are created with our mouths than with our actions. What is the possible root of our reckless words?  Two things: (1) We speak before we think (Proverbs 13:3),  (2) Our thoughts are a reflection of a spiteful heart (Matthew 15:18).  

Why does God want us to keep our tongues in check? When we are quick to speak, we often do not honor Him with our speech. God prefers us not to say anything than to speak too quickly. In the Bible, a great illustration of keeping silent is when Christ was wrongly accused of blasphemy and brought before Roman governor Pontius Pilate. Although God could have sent a thousand Angels to defend Jesus, Jesus never opened His mouth to defend Himself against the false accusations. Jesus thought before he spoke; and in this example, He did not speak knowing anything He said would not be helpful or useful.

The simple answer to controlling our tongue is this: THINK before you speak. The acrostic below is a good guide:

T  - is it True?

H  - is it Helpful?

I   - is it Inspiring?

N - is it Necessary?

K  - is it Kind?

Honestly, thinking before we speak is hard to do because our human nature wants to be heard. But, even in the most challenging situations, with God’s Spirit living in us, we can learn to be diligent in thinking before we speak. Though the Bible states the tongue will never be tamed, it obviously helps to guard our thoughts!

Evaluate the state of your tongue by asking yourself these questions:

1.      Is your tongue out of control?

2.      When was the last time your tongue got you in trouble?

3.      Today, what can you do to start THINKing before you speak? 

 

Source: www.fcaresources.com

Decide Right or Wrong

 In those days there was no king in Israel; everyone did what was right in his own eyes. Judges 21:25

Who decides right and wrong?  In today’s world, that decision is often based on an individual or group.  What is the danger of relying on ourselves for right and wrong?  The human heart cannot be relied upon to either assess or adhere to a sound code of morality. In Jeremiah 17: 9, the Bible clearly tells us that despite every good intention, our hearts are inherently wicked—"The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure.  Who can understand it?” History has shown us over-and-over again human nature cannot be relied on to consistently make right decisions.  So, what or who do we rely on to guide us in our decision making--Jesus.

Carpenters and builders use a plumb line to measure the accuracy of a structure.  A plumb line is a weight suspended from a string used as a vertical reference line to ensure a structure is centered. God's plumb line helps us maintain our plumb line of decision making.  When we use the Holy Spirit to guide our decisions, we most often stay centered in our lives.  But, when we rely on our own understanding, the plumb line starts wavering.

Judges 21: 25 explains there was no king to determine justice and morality at that particular time.  Even today, the plumb line of following Jesus’ way is often rejected.  We need to rely on His Word and Holy Spirit to keep accurate—Philippians 4: 7:  And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Officials are guided by a plumb line as well.  Our training, rules study, past experiences, evaluations give us a center point-a plumb line.  Just as we rely on the Holy Spirit to guide us in our daily decisions outside of officiating, use that same power to guide our officiating decisions.  Then, right or wrong, we have confidence in the decisions we have made-whatever the result.

Sometimes it takes a wrong turn to get you to the right place.

Friend or Foe

This week's devotion was prepared by Rick Loumiet--Replay Official, Big 12.......

We’ve all experienced this…...we go to a gathering with our wife/girlfriend and step away to go get a couple of drinks. When looking back, you see a man who you do not know talking with your wife/girlfriend.  Quickly, but not too conspicuously, you make your way back to join the conversation. The conversation isn’t the main concern because you are sizing this guy up, trying to determine if the other person is a friend or foe! It’s human nature and we all do it. Consciously or not, all of us evaluate people we meet in order to determine if they are potential friends or foes.  We learn early in life that not everyone can be trusted and most are not concerned about our best interest.

In the Old Testament, shortly before the siege of Jericho, Joshua attempted to size up a potentially powerful friend or deadly enemy. Having been made the new leader of Israel after the death of Moses, Joshua now had tremendous responsibility of leading a newly formed nation. As he and this new nation were encamped just outside of Jericho, Joshua meets a Man standing before him, sword drawn (Joshua 5:13).  Joshua does what any of us would have done and asks this figure a question regarding whether He is on Israel’s side, or not---the man does not choose any of Joshua’s offered options. Instead, He declares that He is the commander of the army of the Lord. Not to get overly technical but this passage depicts a Christophany — a pre-incarnate appearance of Christ. In this face-to-face meeting, the Lord does not say that He is on Joshua’s side, although it could be implied based on other verses in Joshua. Instead, He declares Himself to Joshua as if to say, “I am the Captain of the heavenly host, are you on my side?”

As with Joshua, all of us must decide with which army we will align ourselves.  This is not who is on our side, but more of whose side will we be on?  Later in Joshua when he is near his own death, Joshua speaks to the nation where he declares “... if serving the Lord seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the Lord.” (Joshua 24:15)

Chose the right side!

This weeks devotion was prepared by Mike VanderVelde, Big XII Referee.....

Officials have a very distinct privilege and opportunity to be in a position of influence.  As you become successful in your craft, at whatever level, you begin to become recognized and often admired by other people within your group, your association, etc. 

How do we or how can we as officials provide hope for our crew, other officials, families, etc. considering we are dealing with so many things outside of our control (sickness, political division, etc)? How do we push through this long season while maintaining the drive and hope of a strong performance week in and week out?

There are times where I become deflated when I look at the world around me. I sense God being pushed out of every aspect of society and replaced with man’s own form of spirituality. When I focus on what I see around me, I lose hope. But then, I often remind myself to stop looking around, and start looking up. How? The easiest way is to concentrate on the truths that come from scripture. I could choose to be one of those without hope...“but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”(Isaiah 40:31).

I can become deflated by hopelessness, but “when I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have set in place, what is mankind that You are mindful of them,  human beings that You care for them? (Psalm 8: 3-4). I am such a small piece of this puzzle, almost insignificant, but yet God of this universe is mindful of me! I believe that when God spoke to Jeremiah saying; “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart” (Jeremiah 1:5a), he speaks the same to all of us. He knew us and he formed us. We were “fearfully and wonderfully made” (Psalm 139:14). In this I take great hope. I have true hope in my Savior!

I pray that each of you find a new sense of HOPE as we continue working week in and week out.

Isaiah 40:31

Psalm 8: 3-4

Jeremiah 1:5a

Psalm 139:14