There are times the very best thing to say is nothing at all.

The wisest man in the world said there is a time to keep silence, and a time to speak. (Ecc 3:7) Our trouble is we tend to get them backwards. We are silent when we should speak up and we open our mouths when we should keep them closed.

Jesus was speaking to a demon that was controlling a man in Mark 1. The demon was saying things that were not completely accurate and not honoring to the Lord. Jesus doesn’t argue with the man, discuss things with the demon or defend Himself to the crowd. He simply orders the unclean spirit to “Hold thy peace!” Literally the Greek is “Muzzle it!” 

Satan is an expert at bringing division to God’s family. “Devil” means one who “falsely accuses”. It comes from a verb which means to “throw or hurl across”. What the Devil throws is criticism,  slander, insinuation and any kind of mud he can come up with in an attempt to destroy Christian unity and discredit the church’s witness to a lost world.

Too many have as their personal motto “If you don’t have anything good to say, let’s hear it!” Someone has suggested as Christians, we should have a sign posted below our ears that simply reads “No Dumping Allowed!“

David wrote this confession regarding his response to slander:

“Let those who want to do wrong stay away from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. If anyone secretly says things against his neighbor, I will stop him. I will not allow people to be proud and look down on others.” Psalm 101:4-5

Jesus referred to himself by saying “I come seeking fruit” (Luke 13:7) With God’s help may we be fruit finders and not faultfinders.