Narrative Lectionary Key Verse for Today
“So I took the little scroll from the hand of the angel and ate it; it was sweet as honey in my mouth, but when I had eaten it, my stomach was made bitter. Then they said to me, ‘You must prophesy again about many peoples and nations and languages and kings.’”
NL Daily Devotion for Friday, August 22, 2025
by R. M. Fergus, Clergy Stuff
The truth is sweet. Having to proclaim that truth to a hostile world…yeah, that would turn my stomach, too. Mind you, I have zero fear of public speaking, and a pretty strong belief that what other people think of me is none of my business. But I get the sense that standing up to real power—especially the evil, corroding power fouling my country’s operations—would be genuinely dangerous right now. Already members of congress, judges, election officials, and government employees have expressed fear for their safety due to the 45/47’s childish tacit condoning and even openly encouraging violence as a way to address people who disagree with you. Yet we cannot let ourselves be intimidated! We cannot be cowed into silence in the face of greater and greater violations of human rights. The truth—that sacrificial love and service, gentleness and compassion, and radical welcome are the beautiful solutions to all our problems—is indeed sweet. But trying to get the powers that be to see that truth feels like it might be pouring a teaspoon of sugar onto a mountain of sewage. Then again, with God’s help, isn’t anything possible? Isn’t transformation on the table as a potential outcome? Maybe we and John of Patmos need to take a spiritual Pepto Bismol tablet and get on with the work.
What holds me back from speaking truth when I am confronted by others’ misinformation or outright slander?
