It is a rare week when our dinner hour isn't interrupted by somebody who
calls us to ask our opinion.
Those questions are diverse. In the
last two weeks we have given our opinions on home security systems, our
political preferences, and where would we most like to go on vacation. I
have tried very hard not to be rude.
Opinions. We all have them.
Name a recent president, and most people will be vocal as they share
their opinion about him. We have opinions on the garbage collector, the
children's teachers, the preacher in the pulpit, the auto mechanic, the
next-door neighbor, and the check-out person at the grocery store. We
have our opinions, and we're usually not afraid to say what we think;
unless, of course, we believe the individual we're talking about might
hear us or a spy might tell on us.
After all, we don't want
anybody to talk badly about us.
Almost 500 years ago, Martin
Luther said, "It is a common evil plague that every one prefers hearing
evil to hearing good of his neighbor; and ... we cannot suffer that any
one should say anything bad about us ... everyone would much rather that
all the world should speak of him in terms of gold, yet we cannot bear
that ... spoken about others." Luther knew. We like to talk about
others, don't we?
Now, the rest of this devotion could be an
encouragement to "defend our neighbor, speak well of him and put the
best construction on everything." Yes, we could do that, but we won't.
We have other fish to fry.
Instead, let me ask, have you ever
noticed how often people have an opinion of, and are willing to talk
about, others? Have you also noticed that many of those people don't
have an opinion about Jesus? Almost as bad, if they do have an opinion,
they aren't going to talk to others about Him.
Isn't that
amazing? How could anybody not be vocal in expressing their opinion on
Jesus?
Jesus stands alone. Jesus is absolutely unique.
Shakespeare may be brilliant in his writings, but there are others like
Homer who would not be embarrassed to stand by his side. Alexander the
Great was a genius in battle, but Caesar, Napoleon, Rommel and Patton
could command, too.
But Jesus Christ is special. He's one of a
kind. More than anyone else, Jesus is the world's exceptional,
extraordinary Person. He has changed the way the world thinks, the way
humanity lives, and He alone is the way to forgiveness and eternal life.
All of this motivates me to offer this bit of advice: if you must
talk of someone, let that someone be the Savior. Let others know how you
feel about the Lord who gave His life for yours.
THE PRAYER: Dear
Lord, guard my tongue from saying wrong about others and guide my tongue
to proclaim the wonders of Him who has called us out of darkness into
the Lord's marvelous light. This I ask in Jesus' Name. Amen.
Pastor Ken
Klaus Lutheran Hour Ministries All rights reserved;
not to be duplicated without permission.
