As a child of God, what do my words do? Build up someone or crumble them?
Twice in 1Kings:22, King Jehoshaphath of Judah, when he came to spend time with Ahab, King of Israel, he reminds him; Jehoshaphath remains a man of integrity. He says words of edification.
🔺"But first let's find out what the Lord says." Promoting Ahab to seek the will of God. Though he is willing to help him out of his brotherly love to him, he motivates Ahab to look unto the Lord.
What do I inspire people around me to do? Do I bring them closer to their Father God. God forbid, I take them farther away. But being equivocal or silent, trying to protect my image, I am agreeing with them. How much God would be happy, if we could bring them a step closer to Him?
🔺"That's not the way a king should talk." A gentle correction. According to his wisdom.
And Jehoshaphath is in Ahab's kingdom now. Any word that would trigger Ahab, a very cruel king would have ended his life and a war would have broken between the two nations. But he reminds him gently.
Sometimes we just keep quiet in order to protect ourselves, so that we wouldn't be involved much. But Jehoshaphath is again inspiring his friend to purify his words and set his paths to godliness.
🔺Thirdly the very fact that Jehoshaphath came to spend some time with Ahab inspires me. So cruel and bad a king was Ahab. Idol worshiper, killer of God's prophets. And Jehoshaphath was a god fearing king. Why would he want to spend time with a godless person. But he chose to do that.out of his brotherly love.
Jehoshaphath inspires me to inspire others.
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