We live in a fallen world with broken people, and yes, some days we’ll have conflict. We’ll disagree, and people will challenge our patience, but here’s the thing: we don’t have to wield our sword every time we’re provoked.
People are wounded by those who foolishly use the sword of the Spirit in vain. People who stand on God’s Holy Word for no other reason than to be seen and be heard. People who use it to prove themselves right. People fuelled by pride, who use it to cut down fellow believers.
Even Peter was told to put away His sword the night that they crucified our Lord. And so we see, that while there’s a time for correction, there’s also a time to step back and be silent.
A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak. (Ecclesiastes 3:7, NIV)
I’ve come to learn that it’s far better to hold my tongue when I’m provoked than to speak my mind, for silence is a powerful force.
He was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before its shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth. (Isaiah 53:7, NIV)
Yes, we need to preach the gospel, don’t get me wrong. Take up your sword, good soldier, and fight the good fight! But in doing so, may we search our hearts to ensure that our intentions are pure.
May we ask ourselves, is this to win souls? Or could it be that we’re more interested in winning an argument than anything else? In winning, we’re losing if we’re not wisely wielding our swords to draw others to Christ.
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Tilling the Soil
Make an effort to use wisdom when speaking this week. Don’t get involved in needless arguments that stir up anger, cut others down, or puff up your pride.
Planting Hope
A time to tear and a time to mend, a time to be silent and a time to speak. (Ecclesiastes 3:7, NIV)
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Darlene Schacht and her husband Michael live in Manitoba Canada where the summers are beautiful and the winters are cold. Together they’ve come to learn that relationships aren’t always easy, but that marriage, the way God intended it to be, is a treasure worth fighting for.
She began her publishing journey about twelve years ago when she pioneered one of the first online magazines for Christian women, known at the time as “Christian Women Online Magazine.” After three years, Darlene left CWO to blog as a solo author at Time-Warp Wife Ministries.
It was also during this transition that she worked alongside actress Candace Cameron Bure to write the NYT Best-Selling book, Reshaping it All: Motivation for Spiritual and Physical Fitness. Reshaping it All was the winner of both the 2011 USA Best Book Awards and the 2012 Christian Reading Retailers Choice Awards.
Author of more than 15 books, Darlene continues to write and to minister to her readers through her blog at TimeWarpWife.com.
Connect with Darlene:
Facebook: @timewarpwife
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Twitter: @timewarpwife
You are loved by an almighty God,
Darlene Schacht
The Time-Warp Wife