Mark 1:40-45

“Mind you don’t say anything to anyone!”

But the man went out and began to tell the news widely.

When you have been truly affected by Jesus, you cannot keep quiet about it. Something that has deeply and profoundly had an impact on you will inevitably touch others both in word and deed. You will not be the “nervous salesperson” trying to share your faith, scared of how you sound. You simply share something that has really happened to you that is as positive as positive can be. It will not be preaching in the sense, that for many, has a negative connotation. It is merely telling of what is true, resting in that seed to fall into the soil of someone’s heart, the Holy Spirit to work. It is more agenda-free when it is authentic and from the heart, resting in knowing what is true, knowing that has moved beyond believing, as they say.

If others don’t believe you or even like what you have to say, oh well. You know what is true and what has happened to you and where it came from. Keep being the light by following Jesus from your heart and then just being yourself.

As Tozer said, “The meek man has realized that the world will never see him as God sees him, and he has stopped caring.” He cares only what God thinks, and lets the rest think what they will.

Proverbs 29:15

Correction and punishment make children wise, but those left alone will disgrace their mother.

Do the world a favor and discipline your children.

I have interacted with undisciplined children many times, and it is the opposite of a blessing.

Freedom is not the absence of rules, but the presence of discipline.

Proverbs 29:19

Words alone cannot correct a servant, because even if they understand, they  won’t respond.

I wonder of this is a verse advocating the “success model” we always speak of. God made us relational. Words, especially on a page, are not enough. We must have goodness and wisdom modeled for us. We need to model it for others. We need God as well as each other.

[Tho I do defer to the mystery of the Holy Spirit Who can do whatever she wishes and however she wishes to do it.]