Well Spoken Of!

"He is the best thief I have ever known. I'd love to have him work with me. He knows just how to worm his way into any home and sweet talk anyone. He's got the golden touch."
"He is quite the football player. I wish I could make as many tackles as he does. He knows just how to grab and block so the referees can't see his illegal moves. I'd love to have him as my sport's tutor."
"What a golden tongue! He can lie his way out of any situation. What a gift to be able to know the right things to say."

Sounds like ones being well spoken of, BUT by whom and in what light? Are those the COMPLIMENTS we would like to receive? Just as important as what COMPLIMENTS are paid us is who is paying them!

Jesus had some Jewish leaders come to him with the intent of trapping Him with a question. However, before they asked the question they poured the flattery on thick! We read. . .

"(15) Then the Pharisees went and plotted how to entangle him in his talk. (16) And they sent their disciples to him, along with the Herodians, saying, 'Teacher, we know that YOU ARE TRUE AND TEACH THE WAY OF GOD TRUTHFULLY, and you DO NOT CARE ABOUT ANYONE'S OPINION, for you ARE NOT SWAYED BY APPEARANCES. (17) Tell us, then, what you think. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not?'" ( Matthew 22:15-17 ESV)

Those statements regarding Jesus were true. However, the intent of these questioners was far from that of COMPLIMENTING Jesus. They wanted to cleverly trick Him with their question. How sad they did not recognize how true their statements regarding Jesus truly were.

What type of COMPLIMENTS are being made regarding our life? To whom are we listening?

Jesus warned. . .
"(26) Woe to you, WHEN ALL PEOPLE SPEAK WELL OF YOU, for so their fathers did to the false prophets." ( Luke 6:26 ESV)

Such could be a sign we are living more like the world than according to the standard God has given us. Or it may be that by flattery others desire to use us.

John wrote. . .
"(11) Beloved, do not imitate evil but imitate good. Whoever does good is from God; whoever does evil has not seen God. (12) Demetrius has RECEIVED A GOOD TESTIMONY FROM EVERYONE, AND FROM THE TRUTH ITSELF. We also add our testimony, and you know that our testimony is true." ( 3 John 11-12 ESV)

Now, there is a COMPLIMENT: to be spoken of well EVEN BY THE TRUTH! What a picture of a God centered life -- for our life to testify to the TRUTH and for TRUTH to testify for our life! May that be the compatibility and consistency for which we continually strive.

Have a great day SPOKEN WELL OF BY THE TRUTH!
Carl

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[This focus was originally sent 12/19/1998 (edited some with passages changed to ESV)]

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