What People Say About You in Christ & Who’s Listening – Purity 1897
Purity 1897 02/26/2026 Purity 1897 Audio Podcast
Purity 1897 on YouTube:
Good morning,
Today’s photo of the sun setting over the late-afternoon traffic on Grooms Road comes to us from yours truly, as I quickly captured this moment of simple beauty while driving to Star Point Church yesterday.
Well, it’s Thursday, and I share this crosstown traffic pathway photo as a visual encouragement or reminder to get on or to stay on the path of Christian discipleship, and to not be so busy in our comings and goings that we fail to appreciate the beauty that is before us and in God’s creation and in our human relationships.
At every Celebrate Freedom support group meeting, I prompt the participants to practice appreciation by “checking in” (to tell us a little about what’s going on in their lives – the good, bad, or the ugly is fair game) and by sharing one thing they are thankful for and one thing they are looking forward to. By asking the group to share these simple things, the people get the opportunity to share their life and hope with one another, and through the sharing, a community is formed. One of the things we say is that we are there to support one another, and when we share the details of our lives, we get to see how much that support means to one another. Not surprisingly, many members express their thanks for the group itself and often say kind things about one another, including me!
Last evening, I was touched and mildly embarrassed when a few individuals specifically said they were thankful for me. Ministry can sometimes feel like a thankless job, so it is very humbling when people thank me, because I know that it is only because of what God has done in my life that people have a reason to give me thanks and praise. Yes, I know I lead the meeting, but it was the Lord who led me to do it, and I stand in awe when I contemplate the fact that people have good things to say about me because of who I am in Christ.
Speaking about hearing the words that people say about us, the Turning Point with Dr. David Jeremiah devotion for today talks about the things we say and how we should be concerned about who’s listening. David Jeremiah writes:
“WHO IS LISTENING?
Do not curse the king, even in your thought; do not curse the rich, even in your bedroom; for a bird of the air may carry your voice, and a bird in flight may tell the matter. – Ecclesiastes 10:20
One of the unexpected surprises of the digital age is that our devices are sometimes “listening” to us. Our phones and household digital assistants have microphones that often respond to key words in our conversations—until we turn on privacy settings that prevent their unwanted participation.
Long before the digital age, Solomon warned against unguarded speech that you think is private but might be overheard. A good rule of thumb when it comes to speech is the less speech, the better. “In the multitude of words sin is not lacking, but he who restrains his lips is wise” (Proverbs 10:19). If we are not talking, we can’t say things that we might come to regret. The apostle James wrote at length about the dangers of the tongue (human speech) in James 3:1-12. As a tiny spark can set a forest on fire, so the tiny tongue can set a life on fire with ill-spoken words.
Pray daily for wisdom, restraint, and edification when it comes to your words. You never know who (or what) will hear.” – David Jeremiah
There are times when silence has the loudest voice. – Leroy Brownlow
Amen. “Your words can and will be used against you” is something they warn you about when you get arrested, but it is a fact of life that transcends your circumstances.
No only do we have to be careful about what we say in front of our tech and in front of other people, because the things we unthinkingly reveal about ourselves could be used against us to take advantage of us, we also have to be careful about the things we say in front of ourselves because we influence the way we think and the way we feel by the things we say about ourselves.
Statements like: “I can’t do this.” “I will never ____” or “I’m not good enough.” Reinforcing limiting beliefs about ourselves and cause us to stay stuck. The struggles that we long to be free of.
So, let’s make a practice of speaking words of faith and choosing strategically when to be silent. We not only want to represent God’s kingdom with wholesome and beneficial speech in front of others, but we also want our words to impact our own hearts and minds in a positive way to reinforce our identities in Christ and our belief in the truth that God is with us and for us.
So yes, if you have an impulse to say something crude, negative, or unkind – remain silent.
If you have an impulse to speak harshly, take a pause, think before you speak, and reframe the situation according to your faith and your identity as a Christian to help you to speak life and hope into the situation.
This practice of intentional silences and wise speaking will not only impact those who are listening, it will also positively impact you and your relationship with God.
——————————————————————
For those who want more evidence for Christianity than my simple encouragements provide, I offer apologist Frank Turek’s website, https://crossexamined.org/.
——————————————————————
Today’s Bible verse comes to us from “The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling” By John G. Kruis.
(While Bible verses on various topics of Counseling can be found with a quick Google search, we encourage you to purchase this resource to support the late author’s work. (The Quick Scripture Reference for Counseling By John G. Kruis on Amazon )
This morning’s meditation verses come from the section on the Providence of God.
1 Kings 17:1–6
1 Kings 17:4–5 (NLT) “Drink from the brook and eat what the ravens bring you, for I have commanded them to bring you food.” So Elijah did as the LORD told him and camped beside Kerith Brook, east of the Jordan.
Today’s verses fall under the fifth point of our counseling reference guide resource section on the Providence of God.
5. God used ravens to care for Elijah.
Today’s Bible verses remind us of the miraculous provision that God brings to His faithful servants. The Bible is the TRUTH. It’s reliable and trustworthy, and when we read about the miracles that God does in it, we should realize that even though these occurrences are extremely rare, they point to the truth of how much God loves us and provides for us in times of need.
While I wasn’t fed by ravens during my recent forced time off of work, the Lord did provide for my needs. Not only did God open opportunities of employment to help me to participate in filling the gap, but He also sent unexplained mysterious deposits to my bank account that I know were the machinations of His sovereign will. I don’t question how God provides. I just say, “Thank You and Praise the Lord!”
So, open your eyes to how much God loves you. See how He provides for you through normal means and unexplained, seemingly random blessings. God is in control, and when things work together for your good, you should recognize that God “sent that raven” and rejoice.
———————————————————–
As always, I invite all to go to mt4christ.com, where I always share insights from prominent Christian theologians and counselors to assist my brothers and sisters in Christ with their walk.
Today, we continue sharing from “Pause for Power” By Warren Wiersbe.
As always, I share this information for educational purposes and encourage you all to purchase Wiersbe’s books for your own private study and to support the late author’s work. This resource is available online for less than $20 at many sites.
Day 31 – Not in It for the Money – Read 1 Corinthians 9:1–18
What then is my reward? Just this: that in preaching the gospel I may offer it free of charge, and so not make use of my rights in preaching it. – 1 Corinthians 9:18
The unsaved world is convinced that most preachers are involved in “religious rackets” to take money from innocent people. No doubt there are people who “use” religion to exploit others and control them. But we must make sure that nothing we do in our own ministry gives the impression that we are of their number.
A wrong attitude toward money has hindered the gospel from the earliest days of the church. Simon the magician thought he could buy the gift of the Holy Spirit with money (Acts 8:18–24). Ananias and Sapphira loved money more than the truth, and God killed them (5:1–10).
For eighteen years, Dr. H. A. Ironside served as pastor of Moody Church in Chicago. The first time I heard him announce an offering, he said, “We ask God’s people to give generously. If you are not a believer in Jesus Christ, we do not ask you to give. We have a gift for you—eternal life through faith in Christ!” He made it clear that the offering was for believers, lest the unsaved in the congregation stumble over money and reject the gospel.
Something to Ponder – How can money propel the cause of the gospel? How can it become a hindrance?[1]
The MT4Christ247 audio podcast is available on YouTube, Apple, Amazon, Spotify, iHeartRadio, Podbean, Audible, and many more podcast platforms!
Subscribe to The MT4Christ247 Channel on YouTube!
Email me at m.t.clark@mt4christ.com with any questions, or comments, or to inquire about our Christian Life Coaching or Prayer Ministry Services.
“The views, opinions, and commentary of this publication are those of the author, M.T. Clark, only, and do not purport to reflect the opinions or views of any of the photographers, artists, ministries, or other authors of the other works that may be included in this publication, and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of any entities the author may represent.”
Encouragement for the Path of Christian Discipleship
Support MT 4 Christ Community Freedom Ministry!
To Give via Pay Pal Go to the MT4Christ Donations Page
Or Give Via Venmo or the Cash App by scanning the QR Code below:
[1] Warren W. Wiersbe, Pause for Power: A 365-Day Journey through the Scriptures, 2nd Ed., Year in the Word Series (Colorado Springs, CO: David C. Cook, 2010).
Leave a Reply