Have you ever read something that someone posted on the web, maybe Facebook or Twitter, and known that they were wrong and just generated this long response explaining how they were wrong and here is why?  Probably none of you have done that, but this morning I came SOOO close.

I read a post, and I read some replies, and both the post and all the replies were in alignment with what I thought to be true.  Then came that one guy and he disagreed.

First Reaction

The discussion was a Biblical, and it was on Facebook, and my first reaction was, that this joker was wrong.  He did not have his facts straight.  So, without praying or doing any study to confirm my opinion, I simply let my fingers do the walking across the keyboard.  But as I typed this dissertation at about line 15 my fingers started to slow.  My mind also shifted, and I found myself praying about this issue.

It was not a long prayer, but the Holy Spirit jabbed me in the rib cage with his pruning knife and reminded me how I am always saying, “test everything against God’s Word.”

Yes, it is humbling when the Holy Spirit reminds me using words that He had imprinted on my heart to get my attention.

Testing All Things Against God’s Word.

In the prayers that followed was repentance and thanksgiving and praise, as well as a request for help on the best way to proceed with this topic and the Lord, was gracious and set me on a path.  I opened a digital Bible and did a Word Search that yielded several passages.  I looked at Strongs and got a definition of the word that was being discussed in the phrase.

Result

As it turned out I was wrong.  The topic we were discussing and the word that came up was being used incorrectly.  Now neither the topic or the word is important to this discussion, but what is important is that God chooses his words carefully.  As I researched this topic, I found that the one word had a very specific use and all the other things that I had tried to lump in with it were handled individually throughout the scriptures.

Observation

Now had I published my initial response would it have been salvation threatening.  I do not think so, but Only God would know for sure.  The one thing I do know is that He got my attention and stopped me.  Had I not been listening or if I had allowed my worldly passions to control my heart, I would have published the reply and provided misleading information.  But thankfully I felt the Holy Spirit poking me to get my attention.  Once I stopped to listen He guided me through the Word to find the answer I had overlooked.

Closing Thought

The one glaring scripture that nagged at me as I did the research and put together the reply with the Holy Spirits help was in James.  I had been so eager to speak out that my ears had closed, and my mouth was in control.  But this scripture nagged at me, and I could not remember where it was, so I did another search.

James 1:19 (ESV)

¹⁹ Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger;

I was so sure that I wanted to spit out the info I KNEW was right, but I would have been challenged by someone that took the time to listen to this passage and I well could have succumb to anger, and there is no value in that.

As believers that trust in God, we are so blessed to have the Word of God and the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.  I am thankful that every day my hearing and control of my tongue improves.  Sometimes it is like walking up a snowy hill, and I slip and slide a bit, but the Lord has my back.

Prayer

Father, thank you for all your provision.  Thank you for always helping me focus on moving forward toward the prize.  What an awesome God you are, and I am thankful beyond measure.  I pray all this in Jesus name, Amen!