But they held their peace and answered him not a word; for the king’s commandment was, “Do not answer him.” Isaiah 36:21
It is easy for most people to speak up about their own opinions or thoughts on some issue. In giving one’s own opinion there are times in which it just fuels the fire and arguments. People will quickly put up a harder defense when someone stands up against them on some issue that they are passionate about. Friendships and relationships can easily be destroyed when opinions are forced on someone else.
Isaiah records that when Sennacherib and His leaders were threatening Israel, King Hezekiah told the people to keep their peace and not answer him.
The world is quick to offer arguments against God and His ways. It began with Adam and Eve in the garden with the serpent and has continued to this day. Just for the sake of disagreeing with what God has said, people will come up with every excuse possible or argument that God is wrong, or the understanding of His word is wrong.
When a believer is witnessing to an unbeliever, very often the unbeliever comes up with all types of case scenarios as to how God is not real, or it unloving, or something else false. They sidestep the fact of what God has said and refuse to act upon it.
Some believers will often get caught up in trying to argue their point or defend God and His word. While there is a time and place to defend God and His word, often one just needs to be silent and point only to Jesus, rather than the issue at hand. Without Jesus, having a great doctrine does not mean anything. The world needs Jesus, not a great doctrinal thesis.
If you have been a believer for any length of time, you have probably heard some weak arguments the world gives against believing in God. Every time you hear these things, you have a choice as to whether to engage in the war of words, or to be silent and allow God to do what He does best.
Seek the Holy Spirit to lead you in to when you should speak or when you should be silent. Allow the King to give you the right command. Then allow God to work in the hearts and minds of the unbeliever with weak arguments against Him and His word.
Today I pray that you will know Jesus as your Lord and Savior; that God will give you wisdom as to when to speak or be silent; that God will always give you the right words to speak; and that your life and words will always point people to Jesus.
Picture by Kristina Flour on Unsplash
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