When to Speak, When to Shine
“Sometimes the Spirit leads us to speak, sometimes to shine. The key is walking with Him, not ahead of Him.”
Job 32:8 — “It is the Spirit in a person, the breath of the Almighty, that gives them understanding.”
John 12:32 — “And I, when I am lifted up from the earth, will draw all people to myself.”
Inspired by our latest In Christ devotional by E. Stanley Jones and our previous Job 32 Devotional based on the Grace and Truth Study Bible
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If I’m reading both of these devotionals rightly, there’s a beautiful tension we’re invited to hold. In the Job 32 post, we meet Elihu, a young man moved not by pride or personal offense but by a holy zeal for God’s honor. He doesn’t speak for the sake of being heard. He speaks because he cannot stay silent while God's justice is misrepresented. The Spirit of God fills him with insight that surpasses human status or tradition. It’s a moment of Spirit-filled boldness, where silence would be dishonoring.
Contrast this with E. Stanley Jones’s devotional, which reminds us that contending for the faith doesn’t mean arguing people into the Kingdom. The truth doesn’t need a sword fight to prove it’s true—it only needs to be lifted up. Jesus doesn’t need defenders who win debates; He desires disciples who display Him. When He is lifted up, He does the drawing.
So how do we live in this tension? One voice burns to correct the distortion. The other voice gently insists that the Son needs no protection—only visibility. If we’re not careful, we’ll feel forced to choose between the two. But what if both are true, and both are needed?
There are times when the Spirit compels us to speak—to lovingly clarify when God’s character is being misrepresented, especially among believers. This is Elihu’s moment. But that boldness isn’t ego-driven or argumentative. It’s reverent, Spirit-breathed clarity. Then, there are moments when we are to simply shine—to commend Christ by how we live, without contention, trusting that His presence in us is the defense. This is Jones’s call.
The key difference lies not in what we say, but in why and how we say it. Elihu didn’t speak from frustration, but from reverence. Jones didn’t shy away from truth, but he surrendered the spotlight to Christ. In both cases, God was magnified—not through cleverness, but through yielded vessels.
So I ask myself today: Am I burning with zeal for God’s honor in this moment, or is this an invitation to quietly lift Christ through my life? Either way, it is the Spirit who leads, and He always leads in love.
Personalized Journal Entry — In the Holy Spirit’s Voice Through Scripture
I breathe into you—not just words, but discernment. I give you understanding not from age or experience, but from the reverent posture of your heart. My Spirit speaks through you when My name is misrepresented, not to crush others, but to clarify truth and restore awe. Like Elihu, you are stirred not by pride but by My presence.
There is a time to speak, and a time to shine. There is a time to confront confusion with clarity, and a time to display My Son without a word. Do not confuse boldness with striving. I have called you to walk by the Spirit, not according to the patterns of men. If you speak, let it be from My breath. If you remain silent, let it be because I am shining through you.
You are the aroma of Christ, and I make My appeal through you. Let your conversation always be full of grace, seasoned with truth. Do not seek to win the argument, but to win the heart. For I am the one who draws all people to Myself—not by force, but by the glory of My Son revealed in you.
You are not under pressure to perform. You are free to respond. Stay in step with Me, and you will know when to rise and when to rest. Whether with words or with quiet love, you are lifting up the One who saves. And when I am lifted up, I do the drawing.
(Job 32:8; Romans 11:33; 2 Corinthians 2:15; Colossians 4:6; Galatians 5:25; 2 Corinthians 5:20; John 12:32)
Prayer
Father, thank You for the peace that comes from knowing I don’t have to figure out which voice to use on my own. I trust the breath of Your Spirit within me to guide me—to give me words when Your name is misrepresented, and to give me quiet assurance when I’m simply to live out the life of Christ.
Whether in speech or silence, I trust You to lead. I thank You that I don’t need to defend truth like it’s under threat, but simply commend the Truth who lives in me. Christ is enough—His light never fails to shine. And when He shines through me, hearts are drawn—not to me, but to You.
Amen.
Devotional Credit: In Christ by E. Stanley Jones and Job 32 by Believing Thomas
Photo Credit: Unsplash.com