I have created a great deal of confusion by simply not choosing my words carefully. I am responsible for overseeing the burn pit and scrap metal yard here on my base. They are located adjacent to one another, and cooperate together. One is run be one company, while the other operated by another company. I cannot use the terms “burn pit” and “scrap yard” interchangeably, even though many others do. When asked for the fuel usage of the company that operates the scrap yard, I mistakenly offered the amounts and called it the company at the “burn pit.” Unfortunately, I am now hopelessly mired in a conversation with someone who just will not accept anything I say to correct this mistake. Take care on your word choices.
Just a thot – our word choices matter when presenting the gospel, too. People get confused about how to be saved, not to mention all the other things surrounding the things of God. Lots of people mistakenly think one is saved by one’s actions: go to church to get saved, be baptized to be saved, or clean up your life to be saved. Others have the mistaken idea that one is saved because of what is over the door of their church: is it the right denomination? Others think they need to pray better, or even say just the right words, or they won’t be saved. The confusion is tremendous.
God has spoken – and chosen His words perfectly. Acts 16:27-31: “And the keeper of the prison awaking out of his sleep, and seeing the prison doors open, he drew out his sword, and would have killed himself, supposing that the prisoners had been fled. But Paul cried with a loud voice, saying, Do thyself no harm: for we are all here. Then he called for a light, and sprang in, and came trembling, and fell down before Paul and Silas, And brought them out, and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.”
Salvation is about belief – belief that trusts. The Bible distinguishes belief that is merely intellectual assent when Jesus said the devils believe (are they saved? Heaven forbid). Rituals do not save, for the Jews were very ritualistic, but did not trust the Lord. The object of our trust is Jesus Christ. We must trust His work on Calvary, His resurrection to be ours one day, and His Holy Spirit in our lives today (which comes to us when we trust the Lord, and whose presence is evidence of our salvation).
I have, therefore, resolved to carefully choose my words when presenting the gospel, lest I be guilty of adding to the confusion rather than cutting through it. Will you also make it a point in YOUR life to be as careful in word choice? But first, will you carefully consider the Lord’s choice of words, and believe in Jesus enough to trust Him alone for your salvation? “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved.”
Holler for Jesus,
Greg Yount
Check out my blogs:
Just-a-Thot - Devotional thoughts - http://justa-thot.blogspot.com
As I See It - Biblical perspectives on current events - http://asiseeit10.blogspot.com
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Pastor Greg