Thursday, December 11, 2008
2 Corinthians 10:9-11 I do not want to seem to be trying to frighten you with my letters. For some say, "His letters are weighty and forceful, but in person he is unimpressive and his speaking amounts to nothing." Such people should realize that what we are in our letters when we are absent, we will be in our actions when we are present.
I APPROVE THIS MESSAGE
Sometimes politicians put ads on TV about their opponents meant to frighten people into not voting for them. Scare tactics can be very effective, but methods like that are not the way that a Christian operates.
Paul says, "I'm not trying to manipulate you with scare tactics, I'm speaking the truth in love. When I return to Corinth my actions will match my words."
This is the way that Christians ought to speak. We don't hold back necessary things, but we also don't exaggerate in order to manipulate people.
Jesus teaches us that we should not need to swear that what we're saying is the truth. The Christian's "Yes" should simply be "Yes," and their "No" should be "No" (Matthew 5:37). In the same way, whenever we speak we should be careful to simply speak the facts instead of embellishing them to further our own agendas.
Everything you say is marked, "I approve this message." Seek to have the Father's approval too.
