As a writer, the Sidewalk Prophets and I think along the same lines. While I was teaching High School Bible at Red Lion, The Words I Would Say became a big hit. Like the lyrics to this song, this was my daily prayer for my teenager students. My goal was to try to make the Bible cool and relative in an age where skeptics believed that God was dead. One of the reasons I got into teaching was to help my students avoid the same mistakes that I made when I was a teenager.
Let no foul or polluting language, nor evil word nor unwholesome or worthless talk [ever] come out of your mouth, but only such [speech] as is good and beneficial to the spiritual progress of others, as is fitting to the need and the occasion, that it may be a blessing and give grace (God’s favor) to those who hear it, Ephesians 4:29.
Finding hope in a world that is falling apart is a hard sell. Yet, when you make a decision to be a source of encouragement, spiritual progress is possible. Dreaming and setting goals in life provide a glimpse of what may be attainable with God on your side. You don’t have to become a member of a band to be a sidewalk prophet. Rather, you need to be plugged into God’s living and active Word, Hebrews 4:12, so that when God puts something on your heart, you’re willing to be a messenger and voice for Jesus.
by Jay Mankus