SPEAKING THROUGH SILENCE
By Carolyn Dale Newell
…that you may walk properly toward those who are outside, and that you may lack nothing.
1 Thessalonians 4:12 NKJV
Obedience exercises were our 6 AM ritual at guide dog school. One morning, they switched things. No talking. Really? We can’t say “Sit” or Stay”? Imagine our amazement when the dogs quickly obeyed our hand motions.
As students, we were not silenced concerning religion, but we had to be careful not to be preachy. The same rule applied to politics. Religion and politics are the two most controversial topics in existence.
I freely testified about my relationship with Jesus Christ, but I did not cross the line. I did talk the talk, but more importantly, I walked the walk.
How many times does our conduct fall short of our conversation? How many times do we zip our lips when there are no rules to confine us? How often do we choose to say nothing when we are free to say anything?
Examine your daily life. If you were unable to speak, would your character amplify the gospel? Are you sending conflicting messages? The sound of our silence drowns out a multitude of words.
Just like our speechless obedience class, I spoke through my actions and attitudes. Not so much the mouthpiece, but definitely the hands and feet of Jesus Christ. My presence at this school was God ordained, and He knew from the foundation of the world that I would need wisdom to rise to the occasion.
Upon my arrival home, I received a message from one of my classmates. They were grateful for my kindness and expressed appreciation for seeing the light of God shining through me. In a similar manner, my body language communicated “Down” to Iva (my dog), my walk spoke volumes to those who came in contact with me.
Consider the message you are sending through your actions as you go through the day. What message are you speaking through silence?
Lord Jesus, enable us to drown out the world’s messages with our silence and give us the wisdom we need as we speak of Your wondrous glories. Amen.
DIG DEEPER
Read Romans 13:13, Galatians 5:16, Ephesians 4:1; 4:17; 5:8, and Colossians 1:10.
HIKING THE TRAIL
Prayerfully consider your speech and your conduct. Do they line up with each other? How can you walk more like Christ today?
Copyright 2016 Carolyn Dale Newell.
A Mountain of Faith 