March 18, 2024 – Did I Say That?

Did I Say That?
March 18, 2024

DAILY PROVERB:

Proverbs 7:1-3
My son, keep my words, and lay up my commandments with thee. Keep my commandments, and live; and my law as the apple of thine eye. Bind them upon thy fingers, write them upon the table of thine heart.

 

OUTLOOK ON THE IN BOOK:

    As a pastor of a local church, I am responsible for feeding the flock with the Word of God every week. This means that in a year’s time, I will pray over, ponder, and prepare, with the guidance of the Holy Spirit, approximately 52 Sunday morning messages, 52 Sunday evening messages, 52 Wednesday night messages, 52 Sunday School lessons, an occasional Men’s Bible Study, Retreats, Revivals I may preach, and outside ministry lessons and messages. With a few weeks off for vacations and others filling the pulpit during Revivals and Missions conferences, that works out to well over 200 speaking opportunities per year. So, when someone comes up and says, “Three years ago you were preaching on… (whatever topic) … and you said such and such, which really spoke to me, and I have never forgotten it,” sometimes I should confess, “Well, friend, that makes one of us.” Truth be known, I do not remember every word I say.

    Here is a major concern: even though I may not remember the exact words I have used, it’s evident that someone else may remember them well. This makes it crucial that what I say is right, to the best of my knowledge. Keep in mind that the 200-plus speaking engagements per year are only the preaching and teaching opportunities for which I had time to sit down and prepare the words I would say. However, I talk to people every single day. So now, let’s multiply that by 24 hours in a day and 365 days a year, and you come up with a lot of time and a lot of talking for which I am accountable.

    We are all responsible for all the words we say. When we tell our children to listen to us, we must be careful about what we say and be sure that they hear us correctly. Because they will listen to everything we say. It may seem as if they remember most of what we hoped they’d forget and forget all of what we wanted them to remember, but the truth is, they hear it all.

      

THE WORD WALKING IN ME:

    In Psalm 141:3, there is a great prayer for parents, and for preachers. “Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.”

What will people hear you say today?

IF YOU ARE JOURNALING:

Ask yourself, what are MY THOUGHTS concerning this Passage, and todays Devotion?

 

Do I find within this reading a CHALLENGE for my life?

 

What are one or two things I WILL DO today or this week to accept that CHALLENGE?

  

GOD TALKING TO ME: MARCH 18, 2024

THROUGH THE BIBLE WITH A DAILY PROVERBS
    Joshua 4 – 7
   Proverbs 7:1 – 3

 

THROUGH THE BIBLE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT DAILY
   Deuteronomy 2-3
   Mark 15:24-47