Devotional

Smack

Ready 

Jesus told him, “I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.”–John 14:6

 

Set 

You hear it on ESPN, read it in the papers, see it on the news: smack! Smack is a common form of vernacular used by players and sometimes coaches to establish or self-promote their performances. In short, it is trash talking. In every league, game, and team there is someone who has the gift of smack. Usually this person has an ego the size of Texas, humility the size of Delaware, and common sense the size of an M&M®. Smack-talkers usually just talk the talk, but fail to walk the walk.

In Jerusalem, the Pharisees could talk spiritual smack with the best of them. Yet they thought Jesus and His men were the trash talkers. Jesus only spoke the truth. No verse better illustrates this than John 14:6, in which Jesus says He is the only way to heaven. Many thought this was smack of the greatest kind, even blasphemy. Surely this Man could not back up what He was saying! But they found that Jesus really could talk the talk and walk the walk, and is the only way, truth, and life.

Let’s not talk smack. Our walk—our godly walk—should do the talking for us. We need to live for Him because He has given us the way, the truth and the life that leads to Him. Jesus did all the talking for us. We just need to follow His example and make sure our walk matches our spiritual talk!
 

Go 

1. Are you a smack talker athletically or spiritually?
2. Does your walk match your talk?
3. What do you need to change to be more like Christ?
 

Workout 

 John 11:24-27; Ephesians 4:21; 1 Timothy 4:6
 

Overtime 

Lord, help me guard my tongue, and develop a godly character in me. Show me where I need to allow the Holy Spirit to cleanse me, so that I can be more like Christ. I give You all the glory. Amen.

Ministry