Category: Devotional Thoughts

Matches and Words: Dangerous Things

I’m sure most of you have seen the news stories about the California wild fires. Millions of dollars’ worth of damage has been done. If I understand it correctly, there was not just one big fire. Instead, there were several clusters of fires, each of which destroyed different areas. The story of one fire caught my attention. This particular fire destroyed 38,000 acres and destroyed 21 homes. Can you guess how it was started? A little boy accidentally started it by playing with matches.

When I read this story, I immediately thought of a verse in James:

Likewise the tongue is a small part of the body, but it makes great boasts. Consider what a great forest is set on fire by a small spark.
-James 3:5

Just as one match can burn a whole forest, our words have the power to cause untold destruction. The wrong words can pierce a child’s heart like an arrow, leaving wounds for years to come. Words spoken in anger can tear down a relationship—sometimes beyond repair.

In the same way, withholding words can be just as dangerous. A friend may desperately need encouragement, just like a drowning man needs a lifesaver to be thrown to him. We have the power to inspire and encourage, and we should do just that.

The tongue can bring death or life;
those who love to talk will reap the consequences.
-Proverbs 18:21

Choose your words carefully. Use them carefully.

A Tragic Friday in the Philippines

Yesterday was quite sad for a couple of reasons. As everyone knows, a deadly explosion happened at Glorietta Mall not long after lunch. The latest I’ve heard is that 9 were killed and over 100 injured. I wonder who will claim responsibility for this cowardly act. Regardless of who did this, the fact remains that innocent people died and dozens of others were injured.

The second event did not make international news, but was much more personal for me. The sibling of one of my teammates recently died of cancer. He was only 19 years old. We went to the funeral wake last night. We prayed with the family and did our best to comfort them. I’m glad that we could be there for them, but I cannot fathom their loss.

I watched the news once I made it back home from the wake. There were no new insights into what caused the blast. It was kind of hard for me to sleep as I thought about the things I have witnessed today. It’s hard for me to imagine life ending so suddenly or so young. The day’s events reminded me of a passage in the Bible:

Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone.
-James 4:13-14

This verse, like yesterday’s events, reminds me of a couple of important truths:

1. Life is uncertain. The Bible never promises that this world will be safe, even for followers of Jesus. It does promise that we can be certain of eternal life once this life is over.

2. Life is temporary. The few years we spend on this earth are fleeting when compared to eternity. Rick Warren was right when he said “life is just preparation for eternity.” Whether we live 20 years or 120 years, our years are as seconds compared to eternity.

Today I’m more thankful for the life that God has granted me. More importantly, I’m thankful for God’s certain promises in this uncertain life.

Let’s pray for the families of the bomb victims. While you’re at it, please pray for the family of my teammate.