OUR DAILY BREAD Friday, April 7, 1995 --------------- READ: Job 1:1-12 JUST ASKING A QUESTION? "Do not speak evil of one another." - James 4:11 Slanderers slaughter reputations. Sometimes they attack with the bold strokes of a butcher. At other times they do their evil work with the finesse of a surgeon. Satan is an expert in subtle slander. Knowing the power of a well-placed question to destroy a reputation, he simply asked, "Does Job fear God for nothing?" (Job 1:9). Satan's question is shrewd because it evades the dangers of an outright lie. An accusation flirts with the embarrassment of being proven wrong. But no one can call you a liar or a slanderer if you merely ask a question. A question also avoids punishment. It's difficult for someone to attack you if you have simply asked a question. It's unlikely that you can be sued or pulled into court. Yet, Satan's query savaged a good man's motives by implying that all of the good Job did was a coverup for selfishness. When we are inclined to ask a malicious question, let's stop and remind ourselves that we will be playing the devil's game. Our tongues were not given to us to rip people apart; they were given to us to build people up. We ought to speak well of others not only to their face but also behind their back. -- Haddon W. Robinson The tongue can be a blessing Or the tongue can be a curse; Say, friend, how are you using yours: For better or for worse? ------------------------------------------- THOUGHT FOR THE DAY ------------------------------------------- Our words have the power to build up or to tear down. ------------------------------------------- THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR: 2 Kings 4-6 ========================================================================= Our Daily Bread, Copyright 1995, used by permission of Radio Bible Class, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49555, USA. ODB files are being archived at ICLnet by arrangement with Radio Bible Class. RBC is presently developing its own servers and we look forward to RBC's official presence here on the internet in the near future. Written permission to distribute must be obtained from Radio Bible Class. RBC provides a variety of Bible re- sources, which are free of charge. RBC is not funded by any group or denomination, and support comes voluntarily from its Members and Friends. Write for more information, or call 1-800-598-7221. Thanks to Larry Holder (lholder@utm.edu) for the email transcript of Our Daily Bread, having originated from his distribution to the Conservative Christian Discussion List. This copy was written permission from RBC. RBC publications are also available at The Gospel Communications Network: http://www.gospelcom.net/rbc/odb/. - ICLnet ========================================================================= ------------------------------------------------------- file: /pub/resources/text/Our.Daily.Bread: db950407.txt .