Eggshell Walking

Conversation.
It is woven into the fabric of who we are.
One another-ing…getting to know each other…sharing hearts.

I always loved when my children were infants and they tried to talk.
They would move their mouth and make small sounds.
Parents get so excited about this new found skill.
Are you talking to Mommy?

That loving reaction is exactly what the baby needs.
Small sound…smile from Mommy…more sounds…laughter and belly kisses.
After a while, a conversation is happening with no words at all.
But it is a beginning!

Sounds become babble.
Babble turns into words.
Words become sentences.
Talking…listening.

When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put childish ways behind me. (1 Corinthians 13:11)

We soon learn what to share and what not to share when we speak.
We all know people who are like a spigot.
Whatever they think in their head…comes out of their mouth.
It takes maturity to know when to shut the spigot off.

We know others who are people of few words.
Pulling teeth would be easier than getting them to share what they are thinking.

There are people who look so polished on the outside…but then they open their mouth.
Their language is course and brash and vulgar.
They are not so polished any more.

Years ago, using bad words got your mouth washed out with soap.
Today, these words are accepted…part of the culture…used for emphasis.
They are still wrong and unpolished.

Not at all the language of a disciple of Jesus.

We learn to edit our speech.
We learn to measure our words.
We learn to be careful in how we say what we want to say.

What about Jesus?

In Matthew 23, Jesus calls the Pharisees and teachers of the law: Hypocrites, snakes, brood of vipers, blind guides, blind fools…white washed tombs.

You are like white washed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead man’s bones and everything unclean. (Matthew 23:27)

Jesus didn’t mince words.

Today, we walk on eggshells.
Fear of litigation…fear of ostracism…fear of persecution.
We are careful…hesitant…silent.

Obviously, Jesus’ anger is righteous anger…because He is sinless.
Our anger…not so much.
We bring ego and sin into the equation.

Are we called to be silent when God’s righteousness is at stake?
Are we to stand by and watch His Word get trampled under foot?
Are we to remain on the sidelines while all the things we hold dear get redefined?

Not a hint of abrasiveness…or cruelty.
There is no place for that type of behavior in the Kingdom.
We are called to love our neighbors…whether we agree with them or not.
Loving them, and becoming just like them, are two different things.

Jesus calls us to be holy…as He is holy.
We are to be set apart.
We are to be in the world, but not of the world…a delicate balance.

If you light a match in a dark room, that little bit of light pushes back the darkness.
The darkness is NOT able to push back the light.

I think we forget that!
We forget the power of light!

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on a stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven. (Matthew 5:14-16)

One little light pushes back the darkness.
The light does not argue.
It is not brash or vulgar.
Neither is it afraid or timid.

The light simply shines!
The darkness cannot help but retreat!

Jesus said, I am the light of the world. Whoever follows Me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life. (John 8:12)

Jesus is the Light of the World and He calls us the light of the world.
If Jesus calls us a light…then that is what we are!
Why are we so afraid?

Jesus is the Word.
He gave us His Word to know and hide in our hearts.
That Word must be proclaimed unashamedly.
No eggshell walking here!

How can we go and tell if we are cowering in the corner?
We are commissioned…not to walk on eggshells…but to stand on the Rock.
Victoriously!