Month: May 2025

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

The world was engaged as President Trump and President Zelensky met at the Vatican before the funeral of Pope Benedict. For twenty minutes, the two leaders conferenced privately, without their aides or the press. Their exchange was witnessed by numerous lip readers who shared their interpretations of the conversation. Depending on the lip readers, different interpretations were rendered. Some stated that President Zelensky said, “I would like you to do it, but not in this way.” President Trump replied, “That’s a very interesting strategy, I assure you.”

This may be the true interpretation of what was stated. However, no matter how accurate a lip reader is, the true intentions of the speaker could always be hidden, despite the speaker’s best intentions to shield their speech from listeners or astute lip readers. The disconnect between lip reading and true intentions is humorously portrayed in this passage from the Bible. 

She made a vow and said, “O LORD of hosts, if You will indeed look on the affliction of Your maidservant and remember me, and not forget Your maidservant, but will give Your maidservant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and a razor shall never come on his head.” Now it came about, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli was watching her mouth. As for Hannah, she was speaking in her heart, only her lips were moving, but her voice was not heard. So Eli thought she was drunk. Then Eli said to her, “How long will you make yourself drunk? Put away your wine from you.” 

1 Samuel 1:11-14 (NASB)

Hannah was praying at the temple, speaking to God. Eli was the chief priest, and he misjudged her for drunkenness since he only saw her lips moving. God saw her heart and blessed her with a child, Samuel, who became the last Judge of Israel before anointing Saul as the first King of Israel. 

Words, either spoken or interpreted by a lip reader, may not reveal one’s true intentions. Only God knows our true intentions. He hears our words, reads our lips, and knows our hearts.

…“Do not look at his appearance or at the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for God sees not as man sees, for man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart.” 

1 Samuel 16:7 (NASB)

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.

“Remember, once we pass this gate, no photographs until I tell you it’s okay.”

We were touring the DMZ, the Demilitarized Zone, one of the last vestiges of the Cold War. This narrow swath of land divides North and South Korea and was established by the United Nations, North Korea, and China in 1953 as conditions of an armistice agreement. Our tour guide was a former South Korean army soldier who served two years at the DMZ. As we surveyed the barbed wire, guard towers that lined both sides, we were reminded that a state of war exists. We endured two checkpoints where the guards inspected our passports and verified our headcount. We witnessed numerous tunnels that the North Koreans have constructed as part of an elaborate scheme to attack South Korea. We listened to loudspeakers blaring South Korean propaganda messages to entice North Koreans to defect. 

Our guide recounted his family’s stories, dealing with the separation of family members now living in North Korea. Throughout the visitor center are grim reminders of the desperate search to locate them.  It revealed a personal side of the war, infrequently heard by non-Koreans. Nations may be in a civil war, but the people suffer the most. 

The Bible records numerous examples of civil war. Israel was divided into the Northern Kingdom of Israel and the Southern Kingdom of Judah. During the period of the Judges, the tribe of Benjamin was nearly decimated by the other tribes. Moses dealt with a rebellion led by Korah. Nations, tribes, and families are susceptible to civil war, and millions have suffered.

Yes, they knew God, but they wouldn’t worship him as God or even give him thanks. And they began to think up foolish ideas of what God was like. As a result, their minds became dark and confused. Claiming to be wise, they instead became utter fools. And instead of worshiping the glorious, ever-living God, they worshiped idols made to look like mere people and birds and animals and reptiles.

Romans 1:21-23 (NLT)

What is the most devastating civil war? We created it and remain at war with God. God created us as one family, in His image as His sons and daughters. In this perfect family, we chose to rebel and sin against God, our Father. Everyone suffers through this pain of separation. Thanks be to God that He gave us a solution. Not a truce nor a demilitarized zone. He offered a sacrifice. He gave us His only Son to die for our sins and receive the punishment that we deserved. Through the power of the Resurrection, Jesus Christ conquered death and showed that all who confess and repent of their sins and place their faith in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior would receive salvation and eternal life. 

We do not have to be at war with God. He has given us the answer when all our actions have failed. 

Love and trust in the Lord; seek His will in your life.