In an email from New Zealand someone asked me to comment on an email in which the author clearly spelled out to the readers what is going to happen to people who are not serious about God in their lives. And he didn’t mince his words at all.

The author was seriously concerned about lost people and simply couldn’t accept that people should die like flies and burn in hell. He used Jesus’ tale of the weeds being collected to be burned. He told about people knocking on the door, and Jesus saying from inside that he didn’t know them.

At the final judgement some will not go with Him. And he continued to use many others scriptures and stories from the Bible to shock people into stopping and reconsidering. A real grabbed-by-the-throat kind of email. It reminded me of the phrase: Turn or burn!

In my response to the reader I said I could not fault the email and that we should convey this kind of message more often.

When I finished writing the email, I opened my Bible to start the Scripture for the day. I almost laughed out loud, because I couldn’t believe what I saw. It was about that person’s email that I commented on. The Lord is always perfectly on time. It was no coincidence that I received that email today and responded to it. Look at these verses: ^1-2I can’t impress this on you too strongly. God is looking over your shoulder. Christ himself is the Judge, with the final say on everyone, living and dead. He is about to break into the open with his rule, so proclaim the Message with intensity; keep on your watch. Challenge, warn, and urge your people. Don’t ever quit. Just keep it simple.

Can you believe it! I don’t believe in coincidences!

Soft words don’t always help. Sometimes you have to use the grab-by-the-throat method. Sometimes you have to scold. Sometimes you have to be so serious about the friend or family member being on the wrong path that you have to say it straight out.

But the story doesn’t end there. My wife came out of our bedroom and I showed her my incredible journey with the Lord that morning. As she read it, tears sprang into her eyes. She turned around back into the room and came back with her Bible in her hands.

She had been struggling with the Lord for some time about how she should respond to people requesting prayer. She was wondering whether she should only encourage or whether she should also correct people who are clearly going in the wrong direction.

And she received the same message: Don’t hold back – talk straight. Yes, pray for them, but also don’t let an opportunity go by to talk to people about their wrong deeds.

I know for sure that God was telling all of us that we should not keep quiet. Soft words will work with some, but others need a good talking to, even serious admonishing.

Scripture

2 Tim 4:1-2

Reflection
Who do you have to tell about God?
Who do you have to talk to a little louder – even admonish?
Who do you have to encourage?

Prayer
Holy Spirit, help me to be more attuned to Your voice so I can know when You want to speak through me. Give me the courage to obey Your voice. Amen.