The Daily Fountain Devotional Saturday, December 3, 2022
The Daily Fountain Devotional Saturday, December 3, 2022
Saturday, December 3, 2022
TOPIC: BE CAREFUL HOW YOU TALK
TEXT: Mark 12:13-27
13 And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words. 14 And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar, or not? 15 Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. 16 And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Caesar's.
17 And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him. 18 Then come unto him the Sadducees, which say there is no resurrection; and they asked him, saying, 19 Master, Moses wrote unto us, If a man's brother die, and leave his wife behind him, and leave no children, that his brother should take his wife, and raise up seed unto his brother. 20 Now there were seven brethren: and the first took a wife, and dying left no seed.
21 And the second took her, and died, neither left he any seed: and the third likewise. 22 And the seven had her, and left no seed: last of all the woman died also. 23 In the resurrection therefore, when they shall rise, whose wife shall she be of them? for the seven had her to wife. 24 And Jesus answering said unto them, Do ye not therefore err, because ye know not the scriptures, neither the power of God?
25 For when they shall rise from the dead, they neither marry, nor are given in marriage; but are as the angels which are in heaven. 26 And as touching the dead, that they rise: have ye not read in the book of Moses, how in the bush God spake unto him, saying, I am the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? 27 He is not the God of the dead, but the God of the living: ye therefore do greatly err.
The Daily Fountain Devotional Saturday, December 3, 2022
INTRODUCTION TEXT
Scriptures abound with passages that encourage prudence in our words. For instance, St. James points out the importance of speaking carefully: "My dear brothers, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to get angry " (James 1:1,9). Why is this important? This is because words, once spoken, can either' make or mar both the speaker and his hearers. In today's passage, Jesus'" enemies set a trap for Him, hoping to catch Him in His words. But Jesus responded to the challenge with wisdom and discernment. As a result, His enemies were disgraced.
You must pray for such wisdom and the ability to discern. Not all who listen to you mean well for you. Some only pretend to do so in order to gather arrows with which to destroy you. That is why our speech should always be seasoned with grace (Col. 4:6). Also consider the following scriptures: "When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise" (Prov. 10:19, NIV); "Do you see a man who speaks in haste? There is more hope for a fool than for him " (Prov. 29:20); "He who guards his mouth and his tongue keeps himself from calamity" (Prov. 21:23, NIV). Listen more. Talk wisely and only when necessary.
Prayer: Lord, help me to be quick to listen and slow to speak. Amen.