July 10 - The Cost Of Silence.

Matthew 21:27
“And they answered Jesus, and said, We cannot tell. And he said unto them, Neither tell I you by what authority I do these things.”
 
Jesus asked them a question.
Instead of giving the answer, they chose to reason with themselves as to what would be the best answer. 
 
Matthew 21:25-26
“The baptism of John, whence was it? from heaven, or of men? And they reasoned with themselves, saying, If we shall say, From heaven; he will say unto us, Why did ye not then believe him? But if we shall say, Of men; we fear the people; for all hold John as a prophet.”
 
If they answered one way, they knew He would rebuke them.
If they answered the other way, they feared the people’s reaction.
 
They could have spoken the truth, but they chose differently.
 
“We cannot tell.”
Though they uttered three words, they really said nothing at all. 
 
Their silence caused them to miss out on hearing from Jesus.
“Neither tell I you…“
 
Consider how applicable this situation is to our lives today. 
 
When we are called to give an answer, do we speak the Truth or reason with ourselves as to what answer would be in our best interest?
 
The chaotic situations arising in our world today are causing some to give an answer for our faith. The persecutions that we have heard for years would eventually come have begun to arrive. 
 
Will we stay silent? 
Will we speak words that really say nothing at all?
Or will we choose to use such a time as this to speak the Truth? 
 
Sometimes, the cost of silence is far too great. 
 

Bible Reading:
2 Chronicles 7-8   |    1 Timothy 2