How can you tell if you’re the subject of conversation? Does the room become silent when you enter? Does everyone look in your direction or avoid looking at you altogether? I remember my grandmother saying “your ears must be burning” to her dad as he walked into her kitchen. She expected him daily. Depending on the day, he came for lunch or joined us for after school snack. Granny told us stories about her childhood while we waited on Papa to come to the table. He would usually interrupt her tale with one of his silly sing-song rhymes making the younger cousins laugh out loud.
Papa was my great-grandfather and he was hard of hearing. He talked over my Granny, and he revved the engine of his car until he could hear it before shifting into gear. I doubt he worried much about what people had to say about him when I knew him, but that wasn’t always the case. The way I hear, he came to know Jesus at a revival service which he attended with my great-grandmother simply to defend her honor. But as I heard a pastor say once, we wouldn’t worry so much about what people thought of us if we realized how seldom they actually do!
Our words are powerful and significant. They are the fruit of our lips, stemming from our thoughts. Our thoughts and our words are influenced by everything we see and hear, and they become influential in the lives of others.
“A good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and an evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him.
But I tell you that everyone will have to give account on the day of judgment for every empty word they have spoken.
For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned.””
Matthew 12:35-37 NIV
https://bible.com/bible/111/mat.12.35-37.NIV
The apostle Paul cautions young pastor Timothy, his son in the faith, to guard his eyes, ears, heart and mind because he will be held accountable by God for “rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15)
For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching.
They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. They will reject the truth and chase after myths.”
2 Timothy 4:3-4 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/2ti.4.3-4.NLT
“They [who teach twisted doctrine] are of the world and belong to it; therefore they speak from the [viewpoint of the] world [with its immoral freedom and baseless theories—demanding compliance with their opinions and ridiculing the values of the upright], and the [gullible one of the] world listens closely and pays attention to them.
We [who teach God’s word] are from God [energized by the Holy Spirit], and whoever knows God [through personal experience] listens to us [and has a deeper understanding of Him]. Whoever is not of God does not listen to us.“
1 John 4:5-6 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/1jn.4.5-6.AMP
Jeremiah was mistreated by his own people for delivering the message of judgement sent to Israel by God. He relays God’s word time after time to religious leaders, offering them a chance to repent. Each time, false prophets would contradict his message, encouraging the people to ignore his gloom and doom tales of exile. Surely, they reasoned, God would not allow His chosen to be defeated by an evil, pagan nation. Jeremiah even revealed their dishonesty but the people refused to listen. Israel was defeated and destroyed by the armies of Nebuchadnezzar, king of Babylon.
“Your prophets have said so many foolish things, false to the core. They did not save you from exile by pointing out your sins. Instead, they painted false pictures, filling you with false hope.”
Lamentations 2:14 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/lam.2.14.NLT
Jeremiah was a prophet of God when others claimed the same title. How would the people know who was genuine? God gave the litmus test.
“But you may wonder, ‘How will we know whether or not a prophecy is from the Lord?’
If the prophet speaks in the Lord’s name but his prediction does not happen or come true, you will know that the Lord did not give that message. That prophet has spoken without my authority and need not be feared.”
Deuteronomy 18:21-22 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/deu.18.21-22.NLT
God’s word is truth, but truth is not always popular. In His High Priestly prayer, Jesus asked the Father for wisdom and protection for His followers who would choose not only to believe His word, but to preach the truth boldly. He predicted that they would stand trial for their faith, but rather than worrying about what to say, they should rely on His Spirit to provide the right words at the right time.
“Wise words satisfy like a good meal; the right words bring satisfaction.”
Proverbs 18:20 NLT
https://www.bible.com/116/pro.18.20-21.nlt
“Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever.”
Daniel 12:3 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/dan.12.3.NLT
“Do everything without complaining or arguing. Then you will be pure and without blame. You will be children of God without fault among sinful and evil people.
Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky. You will shine as you hold on tight to the word of life.”
Philippians 2:14-16 NIRV
https://bible.com/bible/110/php.2.14-16.NIRV
Hold on tight to the word of life. The Living Word, Jesus, said we are the Light of the world, a city on a hill that cannot be hidden. We are charged with spreading the word, sharing the good news about Jesus with everyone. There are no qualifying statements attached to that commission. Whether or not it is convenient or popular, costly or rewarding is never addressed. What Jesus did guarantee was hatred and a harvest.
“I have given them your word. And the world hates them because they do not belong to the world, just as I do not belong to the world. They do not belong to this world any more than I do.
Just as you sent me into the world, I am sending them into the world. “I am praying not only for these disciples but also for all who will ever believe in me through their message.”
John 17:14, 16, 18, 20 NLT
https://bible.com/bible/116/jhn.17.14-20.NLT
“Through Jesus, therefore, let us continually offer to God a sacrifice of praise—the fruit of lips that openly profess his name.”
Hebrews 13:15 NIV
A Fitting Reply 
Lots of God centered thoughts to ponder.
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