Let’s Talk About it
All over the world, in many different languages, people are discussing, conversing, engaging in dialogue, exchanging ideas, or chatting about any number of different things. All these are ways to convey ideas, or debate the differences in ways of thinking, or to educate others to the truth or a certain set of facts. Some have even come up with fancy ways in which to describe a “one on one” discussion by calling such communication a Tête-à-tête.
Talking is one way God directed man, and one of the ways mankind has to keep information flowing back and forth among themselves to educate, inform, govern, and guide society to live together in harmony, as much as is possible in this world. The first recorded account of God speaking to man can be found in Genesis 1:28 following God’s formation of man, where man is told of his initial function as part of God’s creation. And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it: and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.
The second recorded account of God directly speaking to man is found in Genesis 2:16-17, where God had prepared a paradise for man and placed him in that Garden. However, this time, when God “talked” to man, He did so by giving them a commandment to rule them. Man was not “left to his own devises” or allowed to decide for himself how to exist. And the LORD God commanded the man, saying, Of every tree of the garden thou mayest freely eat: 17 But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.
The Commandments of God – His inspired directives to man for man’s own good are not subject to question or debate, nor are they too hard to follow as we are informed in 1John 5:3. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not grievous.
Hebrews 1:1-2 explains that God has “spoken” to man in a variety of ways throughout man’s history. Again, these directives are for the good of man and for the fulfillment of the plan of God for humanity. God, who at sundry times and in divers manners spake in time past unto the fathers by the prophets, 2 Hath in these last days spoken unto us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the worlds; But just because God once spoke to man directly, and later through the prophets, then by His Son through the Holy Spirit, doesn’t mean that we don’t have some responsibility in the spreading of that Word.
God, in His infinite mercy, has within His Word, provided instruction that we are to “talk” about the directives of God to man. The children of Israel, in Deuteronomy 6:6-7 were “Commanded” to do so. This passage also instructs as to the regularity of so doing. And these words, which I command thee this day, shall be in thine heart: 7 And thou shalt teach them diligently unto thy children, and shalt talk of them when thou sittest in thine house, and when thou walkest by the way, and when thou liest down, and when thou risest up. One is not to “pacify” him, or herself with reading, hearing, or even talking about God’s Word only when gathered to worship.
The suffering servant Job, in rebutting his so-called friends who had come to accuse him of wrongdoing, used a different term to describe his thoughts about that which had befallen him. In Job 13:6-8 the word “reasoning” was employed. Hear now my reasoning, and hearken to the pleadings of my lips. 7 Will ye speak wickedly for God? and talk deceitfully for him? 8 Will ye accept his person? will ye contend for God? Job’s thoughts were put forth as words to express that which was on his mind.
The term “reason” can also be used to indicate “thinking” and “talking” as can be seen in Matthew 16:6-8. Then Jesus said unto them, Take heed and beware of the leaven of the Pharisees and of the Sadducees. 7 And they reasoned among themselves, saying, It is because we have taken no bread. 8 Which when Jesus perceived, he said unto them, O ye of little faith, why reason ye among yourselves, because ye have brought no bread?
This use of the term “reason” is also found in Isaiah 1:18. The Lord wants us to think on, and talk of His Word and “reason together” as well as take it to those who desperately need it. Within that scripture, we also see that as we reason with others, from and regarding God’s Word, how they and we are to benefit. Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.
In 1Peter 3:15 we find where the Spirit had that apostle pen the Words so we could know that we are to continue to “reason”, study, teach, preach, and spread the Word of God. Souls are at stake. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:
As we read in Romans 1:16, the gospel is God’s Power “unto Salvation”. For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. Let’s talk about it! Let’s reason together from the Scriptures and learn them and let’s follow them in all areas of life.
Dennis Strickland – Mooresville church of Christ
