fools

It's easy in Christian circles to get caught up in speaking this language only other believers understand. We talk about being saved and praying in the spirit and unbelievers have no idea what we are talking about. This used to really bother me and I would always try to come up with ways to tone down my speech so others would take me seriously. But the truth is, some things are hard to explain if you haven't experienced them. How do you tell someone who has never felt that feeling of being filled with the Holy Spirit how it feels to be enveloped with God's peace, guidance, comfort and assurance. How do you explain to someone what it sounds like to hear God speaking directly to you?

Perhaps Paul said it best in 1 Corinthians 1:18 when he said, "the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." I watched Meredith Vieira this morning on the Today show try to make a fool of a fellow believer. This man, James King, had been part of a rescue effort to find a missing girl in Florida. After 4 days of searching Mr. King said the Lord led him directly to the missing girl. "And you brought some stuff with you to help you out as well, besides the Lord's guidance," Ms. Vieira said with a chuckle. As if the Lord's guidance couldn't possibly have led to the girl's discovery. My heart fell at the animosity in her voice. Perhaps, I was reading too much into it but it seemed all to familiar.

Every believer listening knew EXACTLY what Mr. King was talking about but to everyone else, he seems like a fool. Well, I say - you be a fool James King!!! And I thank him for the reminder that it doesn't matter what others think. Only the truth matters. Too many times I get caught up in wondering what my unbelieving friends are going to think about the way I speak about God. Will they think I'm a whack job? Will they think I am unintelligent? How many times have I kept my mouth closed when the Holy Spirit was urging me to speak because I was afraid? But this morning, James King went on national television and spoke the truth. Will there be some who think he is a nut case? Most definitely. Is it going to matter when he stands in front of his Savior and hears the words, "Well done my good and faithful servant?" I think not.

I want to encourage you to watch the footage of the interview here: http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/26184891/vp/36497656#36497656
Perhaps you too will be encouraged by this man's courage.