"Shhhh..."

By: Samantha Reed

Matthew 26:62-63, “Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, 'Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?' But Jesus remained silent." (NIV)

I was shaking, holding the telephone away from my ear. My friend’s mom was on the other line and had been yelling at me for twenty minutes straight. “You’re a terrible friend! How can you call yourself a Christian?? If you really loved Jesus, you wouldn’t have treated my daughter this way!!” She was referring to an argument some of our friends and her daughter had, and they were no longer speaking to each other. Everyone was sad, hurt, and angry. Well, everyone but me. You see, I wasn’t a part of the argument. I wasn’t even in the same state when the argument happened. My friend’s mom didn’t know that though. She assumed I was and never gave me the chance to tell her the truth.

As my mom’s friend was shouting her false accusations at me through the phone, my dad came by. “Who is shouting at you?” he asked. Covering the mouthpiece, I told him the story, and inquired of how he thought I should respond. Do you know what his reply was? “Say nothing.” WHAT?? Say nothing! Did he hear these lies she was lobbing at me?! Did he know she was insulting me and hurting my feelings?

He did know…he could hear her! My dad said, “Show her you do love Jesus, and do as He would do: remain silent.” As hard as that was, I did keep quiet that day, and I have always been grateful I did, instead of fighting to redeem myself in her esteem. The author J.I. Packer writes, "Lord, give me the grace not to defend myself to others."

That is a hard discipline. However, like my dad told me that day, we have the finest example in history to show us in our daily walk how to keep quiet when we’re called to. Isaiah 53:7 tells us that Jesus "was oppressed and afflicted, yet he did not open his mouth; he was led like a lamb to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearers is silent, so he did not open his mouth."

Jesus knew all the plans of God the Father. He could have justified Himself right then and there. Jesus had the answers to every question they had. Yet the Lord knew to fulfill God’s purposes, His lips had to remain still. There was no need for Him to justify Himself, for Jesus knew the plans of God and that was enough for Him to rest in and keep Him quiet. Psalm 34:22 reminds us "the Lord redeems his servants; no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him."

One of my favorite nursery rhymes is the Wise Old Owl written by an anonymous wise person!

A wise old owl sat in an oak,
The more he heard, the less he spoke,
The less he spoke, the more he heard,
Why can’t we all be like that wise old bird?

The next time your friend, teacher, or family member accuses you of something you didn’t do, I encourage you to pray before you respond to them. Ask God for courage, wisdom, and love for that person. He will guide you in what, if anything, you should say. Trust in the Lord and He will guide your steps (and words!).

My Prayer for Today:

God, Help us rest in the truth that you are our Redeemer and You alone justify us when others say we did things that we really didn’t do. Give us Your strength to walk in grace when we feel the need to stick up for ourselves. Help us take a step back and ask You if we have done anything to offend or hurt our accusers. Please grant us self-control and remind us of how much You love each person. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

Think About It:

Has a friend, family member, or perhaps a stranger wrongly accused you? If so, ask the Lord to help you forgive them and ask Him to bless them in Jesus’ name.

Have you said hurtful things to someone you know? If so, ask God to forgive you. Also, ask your parents, youth group leader, or another person who is older and has a relationship with the Lord, what you should do about those hurtful words. It might be that you ask the person to forgive you, you pray for them, or another step towards saying you are sorry.

Live It:

Look up scriptures about speaking, quietness, and self-control. Find a couple that relate to you and memorize one a week for the next month.

Set a New Year’s goal to “Be Quiet.” Share with one friend or family member that will check in to see how you’re doing with your goal.

Power Verses:

James 1:19-20, 26, “Take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry, for man's anger does not bring about the righteous life that God desires… If anyone considers himself religious and yet does not keep a tight rein on his tongue, he deceives himself….” (NIV)

I Peter 1:13-16, “Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do; for it is written: "Be holy, because I am holy." (NIV)

Proverbs 31:26, “She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue.” (NIV)

© 2007 by Samantha Reed. All rights reserved.