Elder brothers are never lost for an opinion. Too often they shoot first and tend to the wounded second. The elder brother’s words must have hurt the father deeply. They were spoken in anger and with attitude.
Peter was an elder brother. He was quick to spout his opinion, right or wrong. His mouth often got him into trouble. How did Peter learn to be slow to speak his mind? He was interrupted by God! On the Mount of Transfiguration, God interrupted Peter and said, “This is my beloved Son, HEAR HIM!“ In Capernaum, Peter spoke quickly and committed Jesus to paying the temple tax. When he was about to tell Jesus, Jesus interrupted him and “spake first to him” to correct his false ideas on the matter. Then in Caesarea, while Peter was still preaching, the Holy Spirit shut Peter’s mouth by an amazing miracle, so that Peter’s six companions were “amazed”. Father, Son and Holy Spirit each interrupted Peter’s speech.
This elder brother, who was so quick to speak his mind, learned valuable lessons at the interruption of the Divine Trinity. This is why he could write of the value of good speech:
To sum up, you should all be of one mind living like brothers with true love and sympathy for each other, generous and courteous at all times. Never pay back a bad turn with a bad turn or an insult with another insult, but on the contrary pay back with good. For this is your calling – to do good and one day to inherit all the goodness of God. For: ‘He who would love life and see good days, let him refrain his tongue from evil, and his lips from speaking guile: let him turn away from evil and do good; let him seek peace and pursue it. For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, and his ears are open to their prayers; but the face of the Lord is against those who do evil’. 1 Peter 3:8-12
Peter knew all too well that the eyes of the Lord were upon him. He had seen Him intervene when he was rushing foolishly headlong. Are you an Elder Brother like me? Learn to listen to the Lord before you speak. Be slow to speak and quick to love.
Father: Teach me that you are always listening to my speech, and to let your love guide my words.
Loving the Word with the MudPreacher 