Get The Picture?

There was a girl who gave her boyfriend her picture. On the back she had written this note: “My Dearest Love: I love you more every day and always will. I know you will feel the same way about me. All my love forever and ever.” Then at the very bottom she added, “P.S. When we break up I want this picture back.”

People can be so fickle. It is amazing how little words can mean to the one saying them. Shouldn’t they mean exactly what the words convey? Of course they should. Yet, because so many in this world seem to think words don’t always have to mean what they mean, in order to be taken seriously when they want to be they have to “swear to God” that they mean it.

Jesus placed it in very simple terms when He said,
“Let what you say be simply ‘YES’ OR ‘NO’; anything more than this comes from evil.” ( Matthew 5:37 ESV)

James also conveyed the same focus when he wrote…
“But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “YES” BE YES and YOUR “NO” BE NO, so that you may not fall under condemnation.” ( James 5:12 ESV)

The Reader’s Digest magazine has a section on “Picturesque Speech”, but that's not what we need. The honesty, sincerity, and commitment to convey a clear picture of what we mean is the thing needed most in this world.

May people come to know us as ones who sincerely mean what we say.

Have a great day CONVEYING THE INTENDED PICTURE!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 10/06/1998. (Edited some with passages changed to ESV)]

See other teEn-MAIL on Honesty