Someone is Listening

Acts 16:25

And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them.

Years ago, I was preaching a meeting for a good friend of mine, and the accommodations they provided were in an apartment in their basement. I thought I was at the house by myself when my dad through their home line. I knew it was my dad because he was leaving a message on their answering machine. I picked up the phone and talked with my dad awhile, and he asked me about my accommodations. I told him they were very comfortable and that the pastor and his wife were being very good to me. I did not know that someone in the family was listening to my conversation through the answering machine; they later commented that they heard the conversation. I was so glad I made sure what I said was positive and good about that pastor because I sure didn't know that someone was listening.

Paul and Silas were in prison. Prison is not the place you think of singing the praises of God. Yet, at midnight, these two men were singing songs of praise to God. When the earthquake hit that opened all the prison doors, all the prisoners amazingly stayed in their cells, which eventually led to the jailer running in and asking, What must I do to be saved? Paul and Silas were not singing because others were listening, but they were singing because of the great God they served. Imagine if these men were complaining and griping about the cell they were in and the treatment they received; I doubt the jailer would have gotten saved.

My friend, someone is always listening to every word you say. What you think you are saying is private is being heard by someone. Your Christian character is revealed by what you say in private because someone is listening to every word you say. I would hope the words you say are words of edification and not words of griping and complaining. Someone is listening to you and what you say, and you are influencing their life for good or bad by the words you say in private. You may think nobody is listening, but someone is listening, and your words may determine what they decide to do with getting saved or serving God.

Parents, your children do listen to the words you say. You may think they don't hear what you are saying, but they do hear. I remember times as a child when I snuck into the living room and heard my parents talk. They did not know I was listening, but I was. Likewise, there are many times when you don't think your children are listening, but they are in an earshot of what you are saying. Do your children hear you say wholesome words? Do they hear you talk positively about authorities, or do they hear you gossip about them? Every parent should determine to always say the right thing because their children just may hear what they say.

Believer, someone is listening to you as well. On the job, your fellow employees listen to the words you say. Do they hear words of complaints, or words of gratitude that your boss would give you a job? Your ability to witness to your coworkers is on the line with every word you speak. You must make sure the words you speak are words that would allow you to later witness to those you thought were not listening.

Always be careful with the words you speak. Someone is listening, and you want every word that comes from your mouth to be a word that would either cheer someone or cause them to want to get saved.