Speak Loud

Hey everyone. Thanks for stopping by "This Guy Over Here." I hope that this blog finds you doing well. It's been a while since the last post, and this semester overall was a bit on the skimpy side when it came to blogging. I guess that is what college can do to you though. However, since I am officially done with finals, I thought I should once again pull out the old laptop and fire away some words that are currently filling my brain and any moment should if you continue to read fill yours. As you can see from the title, the topic of this blogpost is "Speak Loud." This blog was inspired by one of my closest friends and mentors.

Speak loud. In most situations this would be considered an impolite standard and a rather obnoxious statement to ask of someone. However, I am not referring to the actual volume of the the speaking. Rather, I am referencing that we need to be focused on making our actions reflect our words. In every circumstance. A man or woman can be and is measuered by a lot of different scales in today's society. Through the venier of outward beauty, through wealth, through all of the judgements that we cast on each other, there is a man and there is his word. There is a woman and there is her promise. When that goes, there is little left. So today, I want to encourage you all to be individauls who stand by their words. To live a life that is reflective of who you say you are.

To be perfectly clear, this is not something that I can call myself an expert on, and so I would ask that you would not look at this as a lecture or a reprimand, but rather as an encouragement and a rekindling of a sense of honesty and integrity. Recently, I read through the book of Daniel, and my eyes were really opened to what it meant to really stand by your word or what you say you believe in. Two very distinct examples stood out to me that I would like to highlight.

Daniel 3 is the story of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and the fiery furnace. If you aren't familiar with this story, basically King Nebuchadnezzar (what a name) builds this giant golden statue and commands that every one worship it. Anyone who doesn't is to be thrown into this huge fiery furnace. Enter Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, three faithful men of God, who stand for what they believe in and refuse to worship the idolic statue. There are two verses that I wanted to put particular emphasis on.

"But there are some Jews whom you have set over the affairs of the province of Babylon—Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego—who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty. They neither serve your gods nor worship the image of gold you have set up."

Daniel 3:12

"If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to deliver us from it, and he will deliver us from Your Majesty’s hand."

Daniel 3:17

There are multiple things that really stick out about these particular verses. First in verse 3:12, I want to put emphasis on the words, "who pay no attention to you, Your Majesty." Now, I am in no way advocating lack of respect for authorities; however, these three men knew what they stood for in Christ, and because of this, they lived out their belief by not listening to what the KING commanded. I feel like so often, we know what we believe in, then we let society whisper to us how we should act, and we conform. Or we allow others to convince us to do this or that and we go against who we have said we are. If you say you are going to do something, do it. If you claim to be someone who acts a certain way, act that way. Even if it means going against the social norm or in this case the King's command. Some may be wondering where or how to draw the gumption to make such a stand. Well verse 3:17 answers that pretty well. What a powerful statement these three make. Not only is God "able to save, but He WILL." Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew what they believed in, and their actions reflected those beliefs. They Spoke Loud.

If you continue to read on in Daniel, you soon come to another biblically common story in Daniel and the Lion's Den. Again if you haven't heard this, here is a quick synopsis. Daniel is a devoted man of God. God has blessed him and Daniel is quickly becoming a man of power and importance. Some administrators get really jealous and beg the King to pass a decree that says that no one can pray to anyone or thing besides the king himself. Daniel continues to pray to God and is convicted of the crime of breaking the decree. Again, a few verses stood out to me in particular that I would like to share.

"Now when Daniel learned that the decree had been published, he went home to his upstairs room where the windows opened toward Jerusalem. Three times a day he got down on his knees and prayed, giving thanks to his God, just as he had done before."

Daniel 6:10

"Then they said to the king, “Daniel, who is one of the exiles from Judah, pays no attention to you, Your Majesty, or to the decree you put in writing. He still prays three times a day."

Daniel 6:13

A couple of really neat things there too. Daniel, like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, stood for what he believed in. Well in this case he kneeled, but the point is the same. Verse 6:10 tells us that even though Daniel knew about the decree, he still went home and prayed three times a day, "just as he had done before." Talk about living out what you believe in. Daniel talked the talk and walked the walk. Then in verse 6:13, when the administrators are trying to accuse Daniel, they say that Daniel "pays no attention to you, Your Majesty." Sound familiar? This is word for word the exact statement made in the verse 3:12 above. See a common theme here? Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew what they believed in. They knew who they claimed to be. And they weren't going to let anything come in the way of that, not even a King. They spoke loud, and they let their actions do the talking.

So over this Christmas break, take some time to think if you are living a lifestyle where your actions are reflecting your words. As the famous basketball coach John Wooden once said, "be someone who is more concerened with your character than your reputation, because your character is who you really are, while your reputation is merely who others think you are." Stand firm in your beliefs, and live a life that reflects your words. As these four men all knew, Our God is strong enough to save us and He will. We only have to rely on Him.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a fantastic winter break and enjoy the time to rest and refuel! You all are wonderful and delightful people.

"King of wonders, we stand amazed. There's no other, other than You"

They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love.
Signing off,

JD