Happy Sabbath!

Have we recently taken time to reflect on the blessing of knowing God's truth? In this world of misinformation, half-truths, and biases, God has imparted to us the Words of Life! The value of the knowledge of God can not be underestimated. The more we recognize the value of what has been given to us, the more we should turn from the information of this world and seek safety and peace in scripture.

Consider the instruction from the book of Proverbs. "Incline your ear and hear the words of the wise, and apply your heart to my knowledge; for it is a pleasant thing if you keep them within you; let them all be fixed upon your lips, so that your trust may be in the LORD; I have instructed you today, even you. Have I not written to you excellent things of counsels and knowledge, that I may make you know the certainty of the words of truth, that you may answer words of truth to those who send to you?" (Proverbs 22:17-21). God's Word gives us certainty and should be on the forefront of our minds. When we are presented with uncertainty and falsehoods, do we seek to establish ourselves on the certainty given by God?

Not only should we be quick to seek guidance and instruction from the Word of God, we also need to use wisdom in how we use and share these truths. "A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger. The tongue of the wise uses knowledge rightly, but the mouth of fools pours forth foolishness" (Proverbs 15:1-2). God gives us His Word and expects us to use it to promote peace. Even in the face of provocation and wrath, we have a responsibility to not respond in kind. The attitude of this world has moved to the point where harsh words are considered acceptable. This stokes the fire of anger, making matters worse. The precious truths that we have been entrusted with need to be used properly. This is elaborated more in verse 4 "A wholesome tongue is a tree of life, but perverseness in it breaks the spirit." In contrast to stirring up anger, God's Word, used properly, advocates life and health.

There is a cycle that God intends. As we value His instructions, we will apply it, including in our speech. We will consider how we ought to answer in every situation, that our words will be a gift to the lives of those around us (Colossians 4:6). As we practice this daily, our trust in God increases, allowing us to better fulfil our responsibility as peacemakers. This is the superior way! Let us elevate the value of God's Word in our lives and commit to using the knowledge of God to promote reconciliation.

I pray that this is an uplifting Sabbath for you all!

Devin Schulz