Excerpt from 1 Peter 4:7-11

"Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God. . ."

Reflection by Quinn Caldwell

When I read this line, I frantically flipped through the book, looking for the part that said Peter was talking only about how to act in worship.

Turns out Peter was talking about all the time.  He says it's our job to try to have everything that comes out of our mouths be something that God would say.  Every.  Thing.

How would your day be different if when you called customer service and got someone in another country, you treated him as God would?

What would happen if when gossiping in the breakroom, you only said things about your colleagues that might proceed from the mouth of the Lord?

What would it be like if when your kids are at their most difficult, you only said things to them that a loving creator would say?

Frankly, I doubt I could handle doing that for a whole morning, never mind a whole lifetime.  So let's start small: pick an hour and spend it trying to say only what God would.  At the end of that hour, ask yourself if it went better or worse that most of your hours go.  If it’s the latter, drop it.  But if it’s the former, well, then, you know what to do.

(P.S. And since I totally know how your mind works: no, you don't get to demand that the people around you worship you even though that IS the kind of thing God would say.

Or was nobody else thinking that?  Just me?  OK then, never mind.)

Prayer

Lord, may the words of my lips be acceptable in your sight.  Amen.

About the Author Quinn G. Caldwell is Associate Minister of Old South Church in Boston, Massachusetts.

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