This Just In From Cafe Sophia

Joshua 6:10 Joshua commanded the people: "Don't let your voice be heard until I give the signal. Don't let one word come out of your mouth until I say, 'shout'. Only then are you to shout."

Sometimes I want to stop writing and speaking about important things. Words are just too easy. They make us feel as if we are people of action. We think that because we have shouted at the darkness it will flee. We forget that the characters in the Bible who accomplished things by shouting did it through obedience. It's not the words or the shouts or the sacrifices that accomplish the ways of God - it's obedience.

Obeying the words of God is of course more difficult than speaking them. Obedience requires major changes, even death, to our self-centered perspectives. It's easier to dress our pride in words of righteousness hoping God will be as deceived as we are. He isn't. He can smell that stench a billion miles away.

Father, open our eyes that we may not be deceived by our own words. Help us to consider Your words seriously that they may change our lives. Jesus, help us to be people who are willing to shout, but waiting for you to give the word.