Tiny Devotional for Wednesday, 11-17-2021

 A great good morning to all my friends and neighbors in Internet Land! And to family members who have dropped by, Kenneth just left for MEPS.

An evildoer listens to wicked lips;
A liar pays attention to a destructive tongue.
Proverbs 17:4, NASB

“Are you talking to me?”

The scene in “Taxi Driver” doesn’t portray an attempt to communicate; it’s a rehearsal of insanity and aggression. The rational response is to turn and walk away, because even before weapons are evident, wickedness is.

A few moments ago, I had a brush with inflamed speech, directed at (something; doesn’t matter). I had a visceral response: stomp, kill, rage, destroy! I turned away from it, because I knew no good could come from following after whatever authentic info might be represented.

According to this verse, those who are fans of inflammatory speech are evildoers and liars. That’s a HARD word!

I’d like to believe that those who are massive consumers of social and political rhetoric are just deceived. I’d like to believe they are good people, who are being lead in the wrong direction. I don’t want to believe they are evildoers and liars.

Actually, there IS a bit of a loophole, here. The verse doesn’t use words like “only” and “all.” So, it’s possible that alongside the evildoers, the innocent deceived also are listening to the words.

They might not stay innocent forever, though, because the wicked and destructive speakers DO use words like “only” and “all.” They say that all who oppose them are wrong, and evil to boot. Only those who hate our country (insert political belief/action here). 

Here’s a clue: if you start thinking that everyone who doesn’t agree with you is scum, you are on the wrong track; repent!

Peace be on your household.

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