Effective communication is critical to any relationship. In fact, it is probably the key to being able to live. If you could not communicate, you would never know about stop signs, taxes or the price of gas. You would never know that someone loves you. You would never graduate from school. You would never get married. You would never know salvation.

When people hear something, they mold it like stiff clay in their own image. Because of this, they might miss the truth in what was said. The statement might mean different things to different people, but the statement is always the statement. Consequently, it is important to listen carefully. If you do not understand, ask for clarification.

John 21:21.23
21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do?
22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
23 Then went this saying abroad among the brethren, that that disciple should not die: yet Jesus said not unto him, He shall not die; but, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? Even when the disciples walked with Jesus, there were times they misunderstood Him. Sometimes it was because they did not understand the parable He told, but other times it was simply because they did not listen to exactly what Jesus said. The passage in John gives us an example of just that. In fact, I believe they completely missed what Jesus said. In short, He said "It's none of your business." We spend a great deal of our time and resources compensating for our inability to understand what others have said. We have written millions of law books because people cannot seem to grasp the simplicity of the ten commandments. While they are short and simple, people have spent centuries debating their exact meaning. Bringing that down to a domestic level, can you count the number of times your family or friends misunderstood what you told them? Communication problems are global. I received comments from readers of the Reflections entitled "I Have a Tattoo". Here is an example of a misunderstanding of what I wrote. Email quote follows:
"i was a little angry when i saw that you continually painted the picture that getting a tattoo is wrong... no ifs, ands, or buts about it!" I wrote that "It seemed like a good idea at the time, but eventually I regretted my decision to get it." and stated that "we let our son get a tattoo to teach him a lesson." I did not state that tattoos were wrong "no ifs, ands, or buts about it." "I" made a mistake. Most people who get tattoos think they are great for a while. Read what I wrote again..."over time..."
Another email quote:
"i am glad that i got my tattoo.... and i don't believe that god thinks that i did the wrong thing in getting a tattoo." What I said:
"It seemed like a good idea at the time, but eventually I regretted my decision to get it."
Another email quote:
"i was just a little taken a back when you came out and practically condemned tattoos." What I said:
"It seemed like a good idea at the time, but eventually I regretted my decision to get it."
Since I wrote that Reflections, I have learned there is a complete community of Christians who have tattos. In fact, they have their own club, so to speak. They reference the scripture in Leviticus 19:28 that says "Do not cut your bodies for the dead or put tattoo marks on yourselves. I am the Lord." That is followed by a message about the law, salvation, etc. At this time, you may be wondering if I will clarify whether tattoos are right or wrong in God's eyes. Nope. "It seemed like a good idea at the time, but eventually I regretted my decision to get it." So what does that mean? It means "It seemed like a good idea at the time, but eventually I regretted my decision to get it." "Why" did I regret my decision? Now that's a good question.
Philippians 2:12-13
12 ...work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.
13 For it is God which worketh in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure. Listen carefully to what people say. More importantly, listen carefully to what God tells you to do.
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Note: Marilyn writes:
Hello Rod, I used your letters and the scripture in Leviticus I also looked up ... to add to the letter...I did it to influence my Granddaughter and to... give her spiritual strength not to give in to the desire to receive one since she had accompanied three of her friends while they did. It was your letters that changed the battle in her mind...

Young people often do things on an impulse. I reminded her of a friend her Dad supported until he passed away from aids they could find nothing in his lifestyle to link him to that illness except receiving the tattoo this was not proven fact but still his wife and daughter miss him. He was only 33 yrs old.

She called after receiving the letter and thanked me, saying I was strongly considering doing it... So thanks for the letter it made a difference in her life... We are both happy and I'm sure the Lord wasn't offended by her choice not to do it...When dealing with eggs it is easier to (brake the yoke) than try to unscramble eggs...

• Topic: Devotionals

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