How can we avoid speaking "as the Lord would" in our daily conversations? Notice Paul’s Cautionary Example 2 Corinthians 11:17: “In this confident boasting I am not speaking as the Lord would, but as a fool.” Paul openly distinguishes his own words from God’s authoritative word. He models humility by: • Admitting when he is sharing personal thoughts. • Refusing to cloak human opinion with divine authority. • Reminding listeners that only the Lord’s word carries perfect weight. Recognize the Risk of Self-Exalted Speech • The flesh craves admiration; we may slip into “spiritual-sounding” talk to impress (Galatians 6:12). • When we claim, hint, or imply “God told me” without clear biblical backing, we risk deception (Deuteronomy 18:20). • James 3:1-2 warns that teachers—and anyone who presumes authority—face stricter judgment. Anchor Every Word in Scripture’s Sufficiency • Because Scripture is literally true (Psalm 19:7-9), it alone carries unquestioned authority. • 1 Peter 4:11: “If anyone speaks, he should speak as one conveying the oracles of God.” Quoting Scripture faithfully is safe; adding private speculation as divine mandate is not. • Colossians 3:16 urges the word of Christ to “richly dwell” in us so that our counsel flows from written truth, not personal hype. Practical Guardrails for Daily Conversation • Soak in the Bible daily—input shapes output (Matthew 12:34). • Pause before declaring, “God said.” Instead, say, “Scripture says…” or “I believe the Lord is leading, but test this against the Word” (1 Thessalonians 5:21). • Keep opinions in the “I think/I feel” category unless they are direct quotations or clear applications of Scripture. • Invite accountability: ask trusted believers to flag any careless claims of divine authority (Proverbs 27:6). • Limit word count when emotions run high—“When words are many, sin is unavoidable” (Proverbs 10:19). Speak to Build Up, Not Show Off Ephesians 4:29: “Let no unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building up the one in need.” • Aim for edification, not self-promotion. • Prioritize clarity and kindness over eloquent “spiritual” jargon. • Use Scripture as encouragement, comfort, correction, and hope—never as a badge of superiority. Remember Eternal Accountability Matthew 12:36: “Men will give an account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken.” • Awareness of this coming review keeps us humble. • It steers us away from casual claims of divine endorsement. • It motivates us to keep our speech truthful, restrained, and anchored in God’s revealed Word. Summary Snapshot To avoid speaking “as the Lord would” when He has not spoken: 1. Distinguish clearly between Scripture and personal opinion. 2. Submit every statement to biblical truth. 3. Speak with humility, brevity, and the goal of building others up. 4. Remember we will answer to the Lord for every claim we make in His name. |
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