Friday, April 15, 2016
One verse that has always captured my attention is John 1:47 which reads: When Jesus saw Nathanael approaching, he said of him, “Here truly is an Israelite in whom there is no deceit.” In the KJV, Jesus said “in whom is no guile” and another bible version calls itduplicity instead of deceit. The Greek word in the original manuscript (dolos) was used by early Greek writers to signify the art for catching fish. (bait) That same word was used to describe anyone who was crafty or deceitful. In fact, the equivalent Hebrew word was used to describe Jacob, before his encounter with God’s angel where the experience changed his heart.
On the day that we die, we should want others to just remember us as having been good persons. For people to think of me simply as being a good man means more to me than someone saying I am a good husband, father, grandfather, pastor, teacher, or writer. I also think that one of the greatest compliments a man can get is to hear someone say about him that he is a man of his word. In today’s lingo such a man will also be referred to as being “the real deal.” I ascribe to the phrase that “a man is only as good as his word.” In Nathanael’s case, it was the Lord Himself who gave him that compliment.
One of the reasons I was prompted to write on this issue is because we all know some folks who find it so easy to say they will do this or the other and then not follow through on their promise. They don’t realize the harm they are doing to others as well as to themselves. Neither do they realize that they are slowly destroying their own reputation. May God help us all to be more careful to keep what we promise others. May He also give us the grace to back our words up or at least the wisdom not to make any promises at all. Lets not talk about it; lets just do it. With God’s help, we can.
Memory verse for the week: (Jeremiah 3:15) “Then I will give you shepherds after my own heart, who will lead you with knowledge and understanding.”
