Author: Brian Burdett

“The heart of the righteous ponders how to answer,
but the mouth of the wicked pours out evil things.”
– Proverbs 15:28

The Bible is consistently clear that our mouth is one of the most dangerous parts of our body! With our mouths we can cause terrible destruction to others and to ourselves. We can humiliate and hurt those closest to us and complete strangers. With our mouths we can commit vile sin and display profound foolishness. What comes out of our mouths reveals the degree to which Jesus has transformed our hearts. So what comes out of your mouth?

As a follower of Jesus, it’s OK to not immediately speak to a situation or another person. Though we’re often expected, encouraged, or pushed to give a quick answer to anything and everything, a follower of Jesus should be willing to stay silent until there’s been time to prayerfully consider what he or she will say. You don’t have to speak immediately. You’ll have far more Kingdom impact if you choose to speak wisely and at the right moment.

Quick answers tend to be foolish, hurtful, or sinful answers. They often make bad situations worse. Have the courage to ponder the right answer and only speak when you know what that is. Tame your tongue and slow your mouth for God’s glory and your own righteousness. #FollowJesus

“Anxiety in a man’s heart weighs him down,
but a good word makes him glad.”
– Proverbs 12:25

We’re currently experiencing a widespread epidemic of anxiety as a nation! A large percentage of everyone you encounter each day suffers, at least part of the time, from a serious level of anxiety. That may include you. The anxiety crisis is even more widespread among the young. As a follower of Jesus, take this proverb seriously…. If you suffer from anxiety, don’t let your heart sink under the weight of anxiety – seek God’s good word. If you encounter someone battling anxiety, recognize their burden, take it seriously, and offer them God’s good word.

What’s good word? The many promises in Scripture that directly address anxiety! Read Matthew 6 and encourage whoever needs to hear it to trust that God cares about them, knows what they need, and invites them to intentionally focus on His Kingdom one day at a time to escape the burden of anxiety. Read Philippians 4 and embrace the good word that rather than think endlessly about what makes you or them anxious, God invites them to lift every concern, worry, or fear up to God in prayer while intentionally turning their mind to the good things of God. Read 1 Peter 5 and know that God cares for you and will accept your anxieties if you’ll give them to Him. Read Psalm 55 and know that God will accept any burden and sustain His people through anything.

The Bible is full of good words to battle anxiety. Why? Because God loves His people. He knows how crippling anxiety can be and He doesn’t want any of His people to suffer in this way. He is the Living God of Peace and He wants His people to enjoy deep peace even in a chaotic, fallen world. Embrace and share His good word, His promises of peace, and encourage anyone battling anxiety to seek peace in Him. #FollowJesus

“Do not reprove a scoffer, or he will hate you;
reprove a wise man, and he will love you.”
– Proverbs 9:8

How do you respond when someone offers firm, friendly correction? Do you receive it well and learn from it? Do you raise your shields, become angry with the other person, make excuses, argue endlessly, defend yourself and everything you’ve ever done, or cut off all relationship with the person? Your answer says FAR more about YOU than it does about the person offering correction!

We live in a very thin-skinned, defensive culture. Many today hate any word of advice, correction, or contradiction. They seek only affirmation of anything they say or do. If you don’t affirm them, they think you’re attacking or hating them. They respond to any advice or correction as if you’ve committed an act of violence. What does that reveal about them? That they aren’t the “wise” man or woman spoken of here! They are the “scoffer”, the hater of those who are serious, godly, and trying to help them. In Proverbs, the scoffer is a special category of ungodly fool who makes themselves seem smarter, cooler, and more relevant by mocking anything said by a wise person who loves God. The book makes clear that they’re on the path to destruction and damnation. Don’t be a scoffer!!!

Wisdom is receiving someone’s correction, evaluating what or how much of it might be true and relevant, applying that part, and being gracious toward someone who meant well. Wisdom is admitting you might not always be 100% correct in all matters. Wisdom is remaining polite even if you don’t agree. Wisdom is asking God if He agrees with the feedback, correction, or constructive criticism and trusting His answer. Wisdom is recognizing that those who disagree with you, don’t affirm you, and actively correct you actually love you far more than those who smile and cheer you on no matter what ridiculous thing you say or do. Be wise and take correction well! #FollowJesus

“‘Which of these three, do you think, proved to be a neighbor to the man who fell among the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ And Jesus said to him, ‘You go, and do likewise.’” – Luke 10:36-37

We are commanded in both the Old and New Testaments to love our neighbors as ourselves. Commanded! To help us understand this holy responsibility, Jesus famously told the Parable of the Good Samaritan. Being a neighbor isn’t just about waving to those who live physically close to us. It’s not about a vaguely positive feeling toward someone living in a nearby house. It isn’t limited geographically or ethnically.

Being a neighbor who loves well is about actively getting involved and helping anyone we encounter who is in need. The Samaritan in the story didn’t live near the man who’d been attacked and left for dead. He came upon him in the course of an otherwise ordinary day on the road in a foreign land. What made the Samaritan a true neighbor, pleasing to God, is that he interrupted his day to help the injured man. He went out of his way to help meet his every need. He gave freely of his time and money. He met the man where he was, attended to his needs, and made provision for him. That loving a neighbor (who is a complete stranger) as yourself!

This is what genuine mercy and compassion looks like! Is this how you love the people you encounter each day? Do you put down your phone, slow down your car, and make yourself late for your next appointment to care for someone in need? Do you do it for those who are very different from you in appearance, status, or situation? What made this parable so shocking to its original audience is that the hero of the story, a Samaritan, was part of a despised ethnic group. Centuries of hatred, contempt, and fear were woven into this little story. The Samaritan crossed massive cultural divisions to help someone simply because he was in need. This is how the mercy and compassion of Jesus works!

So, how are you as a neighbor? Is anyone really your neighbor? Is everyone really your neighbor? Are you a Christlike neighbor to those who are very different from you? Take a good look at the practical mercy and compassion of the Samaritan, then good and do likewise! #FollowJesus

“And he said to them, ‘The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. Therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest.’” – Luke 10:2

I suspect that, like most people, you’d love to see the fruit of a great harvest for Jesus. You’d love to see millions of souls saved and lives transformed by a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You’d love to see the dramatic renewal of our culture that would accompany such a revival in this nation. You’d love to see healing communities, restored families, filled churches, God-honoring leaders, and the flourishing of art and entertainment glorifying to God. You would like that, right???

It’s easy to get discouraged when you compare what you’d love to see to what you actually see in the world today. Don’t despair!!! Jesus told the truth 2000 years ago and it’s still true today. God has already prepared the harvest. Millions around you are hungering spiritually. They’re looking for Jesus even though they don’t realize it. They’re ready! They’re desperately looking for truth, goodness, beauty, and meaning in all the wrong places, but they’re searching! What’s lacking are the willing followers of Jesus who will go to them to lovingly introduce them to Jesus.

Jesus already told you what to do about this situation…PRAY! Pray for God to raise up faithful followers of Christ who will be obedient to His command and commission to go and make disciples. Pray for bold, loving, Christ-like witnesses to go and introduce people to Jesus. Pray for God to awaken sleepy followers of Jesus, embolden timid followers of Jesus, and enlighten ignorant followers of Jesus so they will GO into the fields and reap the harvest He’s already prepared. #FollowJesus