“When I first became a Christian,” Stan commented one morning, “I was involved with a small church, getting to know the different people who were part of the church, and I was particularly attracted to one individual.”
“In what way?” I asked.
“He always had the right thing to say regardless of what was going on. It just seemed that he always knew how to respond.”
“Why do you think that was?”
“I didn’t know, but I wanted to find out, so I asked him one Sunday if he would be willing to have a cup of coffee with me some day so I could get to know him a little better.”
“And did you get together?” I asked.
“We did. The fellow responded and said, ‘How about tomorrow?’ We got together and that was the beginning of learning something that I have found to be very special: the importance of golden words to my faith walk.”
“Golden words? How so?”
“What this fellow showed me in one simple verse in Proverbs opened me to see the vast truth of God the Father, Jesus the Son, and what it means for how I am to speak.”
“One verse?” I said. “Must be a long one!”
“Nope,” Stan replied. “Very short. But it’s one of those verses that’s like a door that opens to a vast array of truth.”
“Okay,” I responded. “You’ve got my attention. “What’s the verse?”
“Verse 11 of Chapter 25 of Proverbs says that a word spoken in right circumstances is like apples of gold in settings of silver.”
“Sounds good,” I replied. “Sounds precious, but how does that have a wider application to your faith walk?”
“From that verse in Proverbs, this man took me to the New Testament and showed me what he described as some keys to speaking precious golden words.”
“In what ways?”
“First of all,” he replied, “that Jesus is the Word, the incarnation of God. Secondly, that the apostle John said that he wrote the words he did so that the believers would know they have eternal life. From there, he showed me what Jesus said about eternal life being to know Him and God the Father.”
“Anything else?” I asked.
“This fellow wrapped up his brief discourse with what the apostle Paul said about the importance of speaking words so others may believe.”
“Can’t believe unless they hear what is available for them to believe,” I commented.
“Exactly,” Stan replied. “And, as the fellow from church said, as well as how he has demonstrated in his life, there are no better words to be spoken. As well, the circumstances are always right for those precious golden words to be spoken!”
“Sounds kind of like this man from church gave you a lesson on the whole Bible from one single verse.”
“It does, doesn’t it?”
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Bible verses to consider:
Like apples of gold in settings of silver is a word spoken in right circumstances. Proverbs 25:11.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1-2.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, . . . . John 1:14.
These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, in order that you may know that you have eternal life. 1 John 5:13.
And this is eternal life, that they may know Thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom Thou hast sent. John 17:3.
Whoever calls upon the name of the Lord will be saved. How then shall they call upon Him in whom they have not believed? And how shall they believe in Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they hear without a preacher? And how shall they preach unless they are sent? Romans 10:13-15.
Prayer: Thank you, Father, for the truth of your word that is so precious. Thank you that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us so that all who believe can have life eternally with you when it’s time, along with the eternal life of knowing you and Jesus. Thank you for those who spoke to me the precious words of truth so I could believe. I confess that too often I do not speak the same words so that others may believe. Please, Father, help me in following every step of your lead so that I do speak the precious golden words of truth in every circumstance that you show me is “right.” Thank you I can and do bring these prayers before you in the name of Jesus. Amen.
Think on this: The Bible is filled with truth that flows from verse to verse. Do you want to be a part of knowing and demonstrating that truth by the words you speak? Why or why not? If you do want that, is it something that “just happens” or do you need help? If you need help, where does that help come from? Are there people in your life who have not heard the truth so they can accept and embrace it? If so, are you going to do anything about that?
Waiting for the Train 