James 3:13 Who is a wise man and endued with knowledge among you? let him shew out of a good conversation his works with meekness of wisdom.

I was about to speak out in boldness about an issue I have with error. Then I opened my bible software and here is the verse for today. Man, what a conversation killer that was to see. I knew in a moment that what I had planned to write was not to be written.

Was I wrong? No. Was my lesson worth learning? Yes. Was it of God? For me yes, for you no. God can and does impress on me strong words. It isn’t like He is shouting at me, but the impact is bold. That does not mean I get to turn and act the same towards you. You are not me and God treats you differently than He treats me.

God treats us as individuals; that is what having a personal relationship with God means. I do not get to lay on you everything that God lays on me. Luckily for you I recognized the staying hand of God. I have a gift but I do not get to wield it like a weapon. My hand may be upon the hilt, but the arm is not mine.

Even my speech here in these words could use a touch more grace. I know this because I know the Lord. Even in writing that, I can see those words lack meekness in wisdom. Yet that is how I know the Lord and how can I tell you about His entreaty of me without confessing my faults as they relate to our relationship? We only have this relationship because you read these words.

Yet the Word of the Lord yields a relationship which goes beyond mere words. His Word is not convincing, it is transformative. I can convince, exhort, encourage and burden you with my words but only His Word transforms. Only His Word speaks deeper than rational thought, deeper than conscience, deeper than emotion and changes your heart, for it is His dwelling place.

I speak from that heart.