Topic: Mean What You Say [Thursday August 10, 2017]
Text: Matthew 5:33-37
Key Verse: “But let your communication be, Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil” (Matthew 5:37).
In our clime, time keeping is not always what it is in other places. There is the African time phenomenon. Wikipedia says African Time is “the perceived cultural tendency, in parts of Africa and the Caribbean toward a more relaxed attitude to tim… as opposed to the more clock-bound pace of daily life in Western countries.” To keep to African time therefore is to make an appointment you will not honour on time; to say what you do not mean and to mean what you have not said.
In His discussion with His disciples, Jesus drew their attention to the integrity of His words. The third commandment stated clearly that “Thou shalt not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). They must respect the use of the name of the Lord and must not use it for fun. So they must not tell lies in God’s name, but respect commitments made and stop the habit of swearing altogether.
He wanted His disciples to stand by their words. When you make it your lifestyle to speak the truth at all times, you will not need any prop to convince people to believe you. Heaven-bound saints must be men and women of their words. Our words must be our bond for that is what the Lord requires. People who swear in the name of God or any other name for that matter merely do so to convince their listeners that “This time around I am speaking the truth.” If you do not tell lies before, you will not need to prove to anybody that you are now telling the truth. Your appointment must be kept sacred. Your confessions must be your commitment and whenever you say yes or no people can believe you that you have stated what is really in your mind.
Thought for the day: What you say portrays who you are.
Bible Reading in one Year: Jeremiah 15-18
DCLM Daily Manna was written by Pastor William Folorunso Kumuyi; is the founder and General Superintendent of the Deeper Life Bible Church situated at KM 42 on the busy Lagos-Ibadan Expressway, Nigeria.
