One minute read.
Daily Reading: Jeremiah 16:16-18:23, 1 Thess. 4:1-5:3, Psalm 81:1-16, Proverbs 25:6-8
Daily Verse: “What your eyes have seen do not hastily bring into court, for what will you do in the end when your neighbor puts you to shame?” Prov. 25: 7b-8
Cautious Testimony.
Don’t rush to tell what you see, especially about your neighbors. If your claim has no truth to it, you will experience public disgrace. Using caution when divulging information helps us avoid embarrassment.
Jumping to conclusions about the actions of our neighbors causes trouble. As in all things, our limited perspective doesn’t give us the entire story. When a neighbor forgot to close his garage door while on vacation, I feared something had happened. Making up negative narratives doesn’t take much effort. Often, we overlook the obvious.
Using caution when talking about others helps us keep our foot out of our mouths. As in all things, if you don’t know the whole story, don’t tell it. Search for truth, speak only uplifting and encouraging words, and don’t spread rumors about your neighbors.
We don’t know what goes on behind closed doors. Unless you’ve walked in someone else’s shoes, please don’t make assumptions about them. Only God knows the whole story; we should look to Him for guidance.
Lord, forgive us for making up stories. Please help us stay focused on You and the truth You reveal. Don’t let us fall into the temptation to jump to conclusions. Please give us the wisdom we need to make good decisions. IJNIP. Amen
