by David Scott Robertson
"Silence can seal a fate but it does not prove guilt or innocence.” –DSR
Jesus stood before His accusers, silent.
He did not respond to their railing accusations.
Think about it.
It is contrary to nearly everything I read, saw, heard and did while growing up.
In our society today,
The perception is that if you don’t speak up and defend yourself,
Or hire a lawyer to speak on your behalf,
You’re probably guilty.
When someone takes the 5th Amendment,
The “right to remain silent”,
It is usually taken so as not to incriminate oneself.
Like a police officer reading an arrested man his rights,
“Anything you say can and will be used against you in court.”
The Bible teaches us, “Even a fool appears wise when silent” (Proverbs 17:28).
And the world unwittingly uses this principle to its own legal advantage.
The Kingdom of God, however, does not operate like the kingdom of men.
Jesus stands before us in the Scriptures as a man of through integrity.
His position of silence preaches volumes about self-control,
Faith in His Father,
Trust in the Scriptures that cannot be broken,
And humility.
The reason I marvel at Christ as He stands before Pilate in the Gospels
Is that His response to personal attack is so different from what I was
Taught, modeled and socialized in my American youth.
Not sticking up for yourself was as sign of weakness
In the neighborhood in Chicago where I grew up.
Not “looking out for #1” meant that nobody else was going to do it for you.
But there is an “opposite world” that is more real than the one you and I live in.
It is the Kingdom of God’s dear Son, who blazed a trail of “Follow Me” to access Father God.
Paul followed Him and then went on to write,
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ” (1 Corinthians 11:1 NIV).
And now it’s our turn.
What will you do, the next time someone brings a railing accusation against you publicly or privately?
Many offenses will come, it is inevitable.
Your reaction, though, is your responsibility.
Someone once remarked,
“It’s not what happens to you, but in you that counts.”
My goal, in light of Jesus’ example, is to imitate Him.
As the Lamb remained silent before the slaughter,
So I want to remain silent and not feel compelled to defend myself.
We see the mudslinging and defensive postures in political campaigns and debates.
But are we much better in the Church?
Sometimes yes; and sadly, sometimes no.
Silence. It goes a long way in private devotions with God,
And it can go a long way in public relations with others.
The Spirit of God inspired a wise Christian to remark:
“Preach all the time and if necessary use words.”
Amen, brother.
DSR, September 16, 1998
Saturday, September 12, 1998
A Christian Family Constitution
by David Scott Robertson
By the grace of Christ and power of God’s Holy Spirit, my family will endeavor to uphold the articles of this Family Constitution.
Article #1: Divorce is not an option between Mom and Dad.
Article #2: At all costs, do not lie, misrepresent, purposefully exaggerate, or otherwise distort the truth to one another (or anybody).
Article #3: Name-calling among family members is strictly forbidden.
Article #4: Each family member will pray for another daily.
Article #5: Making derogatory remarks about a family member, the pastor or anyone else (backbiting/gossip) is forbidden.
Article #6: Murmuring, complaining, being ungrateful, and/or conducting your affairs with a poor attitude shall not be tolerated.
Article #7: Taunting another member for past mistakes is not permitted.
Article #8: A lazy and slothful attitude towards one’s family responsibilities, duties or chores is not acceptable behavior.
Article #9: Family members will tithe 10% of allowances/gross income, or any other source of revenue to the local church, and be expected to be a good steward of his/her time and talents.
Article #10: Alcohol, tobacco, and drug usage (for non-medical reasons) is absolutely forbidden in or outside the home.
Article #11: Participation by any family member in activities deemed contrary to the moral teachings of Jesus Christ as outlined in God’s Word, the Bible, will, without fail, be discovered in due time and will produce punishment, either in this world or the next.
By the grace of Christ and power of God’s Holy Spirit, my family will endeavor to uphold the articles of this Family Constitution.
Article #1: Divorce is not an option between Mom and Dad.
Article #2: At all costs, do not lie, misrepresent, purposefully exaggerate, or otherwise distort the truth to one another (or anybody).
Article #3: Name-calling among family members is strictly forbidden.
Article #4: Each family member will pray for another daily.
Article #5: Making derogatory remarks about a family member, the pastor or anyone else (backbiting/gossip) is forbidden.
Article #6: Murmuring, complaining, being ungrateful, and/or conducting your affairs with a poor attitude shall not be tolerated.
Article #7: Taunting another member for past mistakes is not permitted.
Article #8: A lazy and slothful attitude towards one’s family responsibilities, duties or chores is not acceptable behavior.
Article #9: Family members will tithe 10% of allowances/gross income, or any other source of revenue to the local church, and be expected to be a good steward of his/her time and talents.
Article #10: Alcohol, tobacco, and drug usage (for non-medical reasons) is absolutely forbidden in or outside the home.
Article #11: Participation by any family member in activities deemed contrary to the moral teachings of Jesus Christ as outlined in God’s Word, the Bible, will, without fail, be discovered in due time and will produce punishment, either in this world or the next.
Friday, September 11, 1998
Failing Forward
by David Scott Robertson
For almost one full year I had been planning on going on a mission trip to Indonesia.
I had prayed about it,
And felt very strongly that I had heard that
Still, small voice of the Holy Spirit in my heart gently calling me to go.
In addition to an overwhelming sense of peace,
I got the support
Of my family & pastor, time off work, financial issues settled
And other logistics falling neatly into place.
About one month prior to departure, it was “pop quiz” time.
In typical style,
The assault came on the battlefield of my mind,
Playing on my fears –
Intimidation about being away from work so long, and other subtle deceptions.
To make a long story short,
I thought it was a good idea to bail out of the mission trip.
I had thought, reasoned and concluded that it was best for me to stay.
There was only one problem –
I did not inquire of the Lord.
I think now I know how Moses must have felt
The day after he struck the rock twice instead of once like God commanded (Numbers 20:11).
I think I know what Jonah must have felt like
As he set sail for the wrong port (Jonah 1:3).
I think I know how Joshua might have felt
As he got conned by the Gibeonites
After failing to inquire of the Lord, concerning their true identity (Joshua 9:3-14).
I learned from my failure that I would rather endure a root canal without anesthetic
Than experience the conviction of God’s Holy Spirit.
As a result of my decision to cancel
The mission trip, my airplane ticket and so on…
I was absolutely miserable.
Were you to have asked my family,
I was more than miserable:
I was intolerable.
It was as if the Lord spoke to my heart,
“You have no right to call off what you didn’t call on.”
I repented, and by God’s grace, within 24 hours was back on track to go.
The lesson learned: -
Inquire of the Lord!
Keep God in the loop of your life.
Pause, pray, obey.
Stop, look, listen.
Ask WWJD and linger long enough for an answer from on high.
DSR, September 11, 1998
For almost one full year I had been planning on going on a mission trip to Indonesia.
I had prayed about it,
And felt very strongly that I had heard that
Still, small voice of the Holy Spirit in my heart gently calling me to go.
In addition to an overwhelming sense of peace,
I got the support
Of my family & pastor, time off work, financial issues settled
And other logistics falling neatly into place.
About one month prior to departure, it was “pop quiz” time.
In typical style,
The assault came on the battlefield of my mind,
Playing on my fears –
Intimidation about being away from work so long, and other subtle deceptions.
To make a long story short,
I thought it was a good idea to bail out of the mission trip.
I had thought, reasoned and concluded that it was best for me to stay.
There was only one problem –
I did not inquire of the Lord.
I think now I know how Moses must have felt
The day after he struck the rock twice instead of once like God commanded (Numbers 20:11).
I think I know what Jonah must have felt like
As he set sail for the wrong port (Jonah 1:3).
I think I know how Joshua might have felt
As he got conned by the Gibeonites
After failing to inquire of the Lord, concerning their true identity (Joshua 9:3-14).
I learned from my failure that I would rather endure a root canal without anesthetic
Than experience the conviction of God’s Holy Spirit.
As a result of my decision to cancel
The mission trip, my airplane ticket and so on…
I was absolutely miserable.
Were you to have asked my family,
I was more than miserable:
I was intolerable.
It was as if the Lord spoke to my heart,
“You have no right to call off what you didn’t call on.”
I repented, and by God’s grace, within 24 hours was back on track to go.
The lesson learned: -
Inquire of the Lord!
Keep God in the loop of your life.
Pause, pray, obey.
Stop, look, listen.
Ask WWJD and linger long enough for an answer from on high.
DSR, September 11, 1998
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