Poppies on the Porch

I guess anyone from about 30 years on that changes decades becomes reflective.  During my resent musings a sharp memory came back to me.  It was a memory of May Day in about 1978.  My idea of May Day at that time was not filled with anarchists demonstrating, but of May poles and giving flowers anonymously.  The latter was what I attempted this fateful day.

                I had purposed, with the dedication of a six year old, to do something wonderful for my neighbors.  I potted a beautiful poppy that had been growing wild in a ceramic pot.  With great expectations, I walked my dear poppy over to our neighbor’s house across the street.  I set the pot down carefully and rang the doorbell.  I had been told that you had to hide so that no one would know who gave the flowers.  So I hid in a bush near by the house and awaited the squeals of delight I was sure to hear.  Instead, I heard the pot get knocked over by the opening of the door and an old man cursing whoever put it there.  Frightened, I was immobilized.  I waited until he cleaned it up, remaining painfully silent the whole time.  Then I ran home.  I probably cried.  I don’t remember that part clearly. 

                Why would I recall such a painful childhood memory on a happy day?  I guess it comes as a reminder to me of the lasting affects a few words may have.  My neighbor could have just been having a bad day and this was the proverbial last straw.  (Actually, if this be so, he was always running out of straws!)  However, his reaction has stayed with me.  This reminds me that we don’t get a second chance to say and act the right way.  We may be forgiven, but the damage has been done.  We always need to be on guard to be sure that the words we say are not damaging to others.  What if this was the nicest man ever, but he just had a bad moment?  I would still have been very hurt by his words shouted in response to my attempted kindness. 

                Unfortunately, we don’t get “days off”.  We always need to be careful.  This is a tall order, only possible by God’s grace.  If we are more aware of the standards He holds for us…

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.  – Ephensians 4:29

 two important things will happen.  One, we will be drawn back to him frequently throughout our day to ask for help.  Two, we will experience humility that we all need to experience to see our sin and God’s grace.  These two things will result in His glory.

                What about the man who left such a lasting impression on that six year old?  Well, he died recently in the home of his gracious ex-wife.  He was shown mercy by many.  I hope he received God’s gracious gift of salvation and that we can celebrate it together in heaven some day.

When Should a Believer Speak?

For the sake of the gospel:  We are commanded in Matthew 28:19-20 to share Christ with others.

^{19 [a]}Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, ²⁰ teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you ^[b]always, even to the end of the age.”
We must speak the gospel.

Romans 10:13-15

¹³ for “WHOEVER WILL CALL ON THE NAME OF THE LORD WILL BE SAVED.”

¹⁴ How then will they call on Him in whom they have not believed? How will they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how will they hear without a preacher? ¹⁵ How will they preach unless they are sent? Just as it is written, “HOW BEAUTIFUL ARE THE FEET OF THOSE WHO ^[a]BRING GOOD NEWS OF GOOD THINGS!”
Do not be afraid of the response you may get at times.  What can mere men do to us?
Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.   Matt. 10:28
¹⁸ “If the world hates you, ^[a]you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. John 15:18-19
¹⁷ For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison, ¹⁸ while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.  2Cor. 4:17-18
For the sake of those who cannot defend themselves:
Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.       Proverbs 31:8 KJV
This would definitely include speaking up for unborn children.
For the sake of brethren going astray:
^{14 [a]}As a result, we are no longer to be children, tossed here and there by waves and carried about by every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, by craftiness ^[b]in deceitful scheming; ¹⁵ but ^[c]speaking the truth in love, ^[d]we are to grow up in all aspects into Him who is the head, even Christ, ¹⁶ from whom the whole body, being fitted and held together ^[e]by what every joint supplies, according to the ^[f]proper working of each individual part, causes the growth of the body for the building up of itself in love.  Ephesians 4:14-16
¹ Brethren, even if ^[a]anyone is caught in any trespass, you who are spiritual, restore such a one in a spirit of gentleness; each one looking to yourself, so that you too will not be tempted. ² Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. ³ For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself.   Galatians 6:1-3

Matthew 18:5  “If ¹⁹  your brother ²⁰  sins, ²¹  go and show him his fault ²²  when the two of you are alone. If he listens to you, you have regained your brother. 18:16 But if he does not listen, take one or two others with you, so that at the testimony of two or three witnesses every matter may be established. ²³  18:17 If ²⁴  he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. If ²⁵  he refuses to listen to the church, treat him like ²⁶  a Gentile ²⁷  or a tax collector. ²⁸ 

^{For thanksgiving:  We are to give thanks always in everything for this is God’s will for us.}

·  [Eph 5:20] Giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ;
 

·  [1 Th 5:18] In everything give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.
 

·  [Col 3:17] And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by him.
 

·  [Heb 13:15] By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.

We need to remember this attitude of thanksgiving in our relationship with others as well.

For the edification of others:  We are to build up one another with our words. 

1 Thess. 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing.

Hebrews 10:25 not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; A stranger, and not your own lips.        Proverbs 27:2

This verse give us the negative, don’t praise yourself and implies that we are to praise others.

For a need, either yours or for others: When we have a need, we need to speak up.  When we see others in need, we need to seek to help by fulfilling it or asking others to help.

Matt. 7:  7“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. 8“For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. 9“Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? 10“Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? 11“If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!

Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.

Luke 6:38 ESV

Give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap. For with the measure you use it will be measured back to you.”

Philippians 2:4 ESV

Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

1 John 3:17 ESV

But if anyone has the world's goods and sees his brother in need, yet closes his heart against him, how does God's love abide in him?

Matthew 25:35-40 ESV

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ ...

James 2:14-17 ESV

What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can that faith save him? If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that? So also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.
Interesting, the last passage refers to the problem of speaking, but not doing.