Speak Truth Over Approval 🗣️ | Matthew 1 Devotional (7-Step QT)
7-Step QT Notes
1. 🙏 Quiet Time
Pause.
Take a deep breath.
Ask God to shape your words—so you speak with truth, courage, and love.
2. 📅 February 16, 2026
Today’s passage reminds us:
Faithfulness means speaking God’s truth—even when it costs us comfort, approval, or control.
3. ✝️ Matthew 14:1-12
Herod heard about Jesus and believed that John the Baptist had been raised from the dead. John had rebuked Herod for unlawfully taking Herodias as his wife, and as a result, he was imprisoned and eventually beheaded because of Herod’s oath and Herodias’s request. John’s disciples buried his body and reported these events to Jesus.
4. 📖 Key Verse
Because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” (v. 4)
5. 📝 Reflection
These days, the Christian community seems more heated than ever over how far social involvement or political expression should go. In the past, individuals participated in presidential elections according to their own convictions. Now, however, it has become increasingly acceptable for churches to collectively endorse or criticize specific candidates. In this situation, I continue to wrestle in prayer over what is right. Yet today, there is one point I wish to state clearly: as many claim, John the Baptist’s rebuke of King Herod was not an act of social engagement or political expression.
John the Baptist was the prophet who cried out in the wilderness, proclaiming to the Jews, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near” (cf. Matt 3:1–3). He did not criticize Herod based on his own judgment of right and wrong; rather, like the other prophets, he spoke the word of God as he was led by the Spirit of God. For this reason, Scripture understands the death of John the Baptist as martyrdom (cf. Matt 21:26).
Beloved brothers and sisters, when we point out and confront the faults of others, our standard must never be the values of the world. Our words and actions must arise solely from the Word of God. Even within the church community, we are called to rely on Scripture and the Holy Spirit as we comfort and encourage, and at times rebuke and warn. Only then is the church revealed to be truly the community of Jesus Christ. If today you find yourself needing to address someone’s wrongdoing, I earnestly urge you to pause once more, stand before God’s Word in prayer, and then speak and act.
6. 💬 What does this passage speak to you today?
- Where do I feel pressure to protect my image instead of obeying God?
- Do I tend to speak too quickly (react), or stay silent too often (avoid)?
- What’s one situation where I need to bring truth with love—and how can I prepare through prayer and Scripture first?
7. 🙏 Prayer
Lord, slow me down before I speak.
Give me the courage of John—faithful to Your Word even when it’s costly.
Free me from fear of people and the need to protect my image.
Teach me to speak truth with humility and love, like Jesus.
Use my words to build Your church and honor Your name.
Amen.
Scriptures
📖 1 At that time Herod the tetrarch heard about the fame of Jesus, 2 and he said to his servants, “This is John the Baptist. He has been raised from the dead; that is why these miraculous powers are at work in him.” 3 For Herod had seized John and bound him and put him in prison for the sake of Herodias, his brother Philip’s wife, 4 because John had been saying to him, “It is not lawful for you to have her.” 5 And though he wanted to put him to death, he feared the people, because they held him to be a prophet. 6 But when Herod’s birthday came, the daughter of Herodias danced before the company and pleased Herod, 7 so that he promised with an oath to give her whatever she might ask. 8 Prompted by her mother, she said, “Give me the head of John the Baptist here on a platter.” 9 And the king was sorry, but because of his oaths and his guests he commanded it to be given. 10 He sent and had John beheaded in the prison, 11 and his head was brought on a platter and given to the girl, and she brought it to her mother. 12 And his disciples came and took the body and buried it, and they went and told Jesus (Matthew 14:1-12, ESV).
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